MEN’S BASKETBALL
U.S.A. 110, SERBIA 84
The United States got two big wins on Sunday: one over Serbia and another over Father Time.
The aging wonders of LeBron James and Kevin Durant led the Americans to a dominant 110-84 win over Nikola Jokic and Serbia in both teams’ opening contest at the Olympics.
James, 39, showcased his peerless all-around game, picking up 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, while Durant, 35, led the team with 23 points and didn’t miss a shot until the 8:07 mark in the fourth quarter, finishing 8-for-9 from the field and 5-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Durant was made available just before the game after missing all of the team’s tune-up matches while nursing a calf injury. That ailment didn’t seem to be affecting him whatsoever, as he knocked down 3-pointers with ease and scored 15 points in the second quarter alone.
Jokic led the way for Serbia, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Despite the 26-point loss, the big man finished with an even zero plus-minus, proving that Serbia’s success hinges primarily on his being on the court.
Serbia kept it close in the first half, even holding an eight-point lead early on while the Americans tried to find their footing. But a 13-0 run to close the first quarter and open the second gave the U.S.A. a lead it wouldn’t give up.
NEXT UP
Serbia takes on Puerto Rico at 11:15 a.m. ET on Wednesday
The USA takes on South Sudan at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday
SOUTH SUDAN 90, PUERTO RICO 79
South Sudan has been a sovereign country for only 13 years, but on Sunday it picked up its first-ever win at the Olympics.
The Bright Stars took down Puerto Rico 90-79 in the opening game of Group C behind a near-triple-double performance from guard Carlik Jones.
South Sudan has emerged as an intriguing dark horse at the Olympics after staging a nail-bitingly close upset over the United States in exhibition play. Jones was one of the players that caught eyes in that game, and he followed it up on Sunday by scoring a team-high 19 points, while adding seven rebounds and six assists.
Marial Shayok, who was raised in Ottawa, followed it up with 15 points, while former Baylor Bear Nuni Omot filled the stat sheet with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado led the way for Puerto Rico, picking up a game-high 26 points to go along with five assists and two steals. Former Raptor Tremont Waters had 18 points and four assists.
South Sudan was utterly dominant on the glass, using its otherworldly length to create a 55-37 rebound disparity and an 18-10 offensive rebound disparity. That contributed to a huge gap in second-chance points, with South Sudan winning the battle 24-2.
NEXT UP
Puerto Rico takes on Nikola Jokic and Serbia at 11:15 a.m. ET on Wednesday
South Sudan gets a rematch against the U.S.A. at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
SPAIN 90, CHINA 89 (OT)
Two top-five teams went head-to-head in an absolute thriller for the closest game at the Olympics so far.
World No. 4 ranked Spain eked out a win over the No. 2 ranked China in a 90-89 overtime contest to signal the start of the women’s basketball tournament at the Olympic Games.
Las Vegas Aces centre Megan Gustafson was dominant for Spain, pouring in 29 points on 14-of-21 from the field and picking up eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Leonor Rodriguez followed it up in the backcourt with 25 points of her own on 3-for-5 from the 3-point range. One of those makes came in the clutch with six seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 76 apiece and send it to OT. She was also fouled on the play but missed what would’ve been the game-sealing free throw.
Besiktas centre Li Yueru led the way for China, as she scored a game-high 31 points 9-of-16 from the field and grabbed 15 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive. She was utterly unstoppable down low, as Spain had no choice but to foul the six-foot-seven force, leading to 12-of-13 makes from the charity stripe.
Li’s 11 points in overtime weren’t enough to take China over the hump, as Spain was simply more efficient than its opponent, finishing most of its looks from the stripe and around the rim to eke out the one-point win.
NEXT UP
Spain takes on Puerto Rico at 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday
China takes on Serbia at 7:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
SERBIA 58, PUERTO RICO 55
Group A in women’s basketball looks like it’ll be as tight as it can possibly get.
In Sunday’s second game, Serbia came away with a too-close-for-comfort 58-55 win over Puerto Rico, staving off a massive comeback to secure the two points.
Serbia went into the fourth quarter with a 19-point lead and figured its win was secure at that point. Instead, a 14-0 run from Puerto Rico turned things around and transformed the game into a real nail-biter. Puerto Rico cut it all the way down to a two-point deficit but was unable to complete what would’ve been a magnificent comeback.
Dragana Stankovic led the way for the Serbs, scoring a team-high 15 points while adding 10 rebounds, three steals and four blocks. Jovana Nogic and Sasa Cadjo added 14 and 10 points respectively.
Puerto Rico spread around their scoring as Trinity San Antonio picked up a team-high 11 points but in total, 11 of the 12 players on the team managed to contribute with a bucket or two as they chipped into Serbia’s lead.
Pamela Rosado — who had eight points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals — had the chance to tie up the score with seven seconds left in regulation but was blocked at the rim by Stankovic.
UP NEXT
Puerto Rico faces off against Spain at 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday
Serbia takes on China at 7:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday