The United States solidified its path toward a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal by defeating South Sudan, 103-86, at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, advancing to the quarter-finals.
Ranked 33rd in the world, South Sudan struggled against the 16-time champions. The USA maintained a lead from the first quarter, with Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat contributing a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds.
Nuni Omot of South Sudan was the standout performer for his team, scoring a game-high 24 points. However, this matchup did not match the intensity of their previous encounter earlier this month during an Olympic warm-up game, where the USA staged a comeback from a 16-point deficit to secure a narrow 101-100 victory in London.
Throughout the game, Team USA’s dominance was evident, featuring a roster that includes 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs, and six NBA champions, all of whom boast a combined 11 Olympic appearances and 10 gold medals
As the group stage continues, Team USA will complete their Group C qualifiers against Puerto Rico on Saturday. South Sudan must secure a win against Serbia to enhance their chances of progressing further in the tournament.
