MANILA, Philippines – Team USA’s road to a fifth straight Olympic gold is almost complete.

Standing just two wins away from the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s basketball title, the mighty Americans look to reassert their mastery over Serbia as they slug it out in a knockout semifinal showdown on Thursday, August 8 (Friday, August 9, Manila time). 

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Second quarter

• SERBIA 42-27: Joel Embiid with a much-needed jumper for USA
• SERBIA 42-25: Nikola Jokic completes the three-point play
• SERBIA 41-25: Nikola Jokic sidesteps for a layup, plus the foul
• SERBIA 39-25: Nikola Milutinov keeps Serbia’s run going with a hook shot. Timeout USA with 7:41 to play in the second quarter.
• SERBIA 37-25: Vasilije Micic banks in a triple
• SERBIA 34-25: Marko Guduric makes the defense pay as he connects on a three-pointer
• SERBIA 31-25: Anthony Edwards pulls up for a long two

First quarter

• END OF 1Q: Steph Curry makes it rain from beyond the arc in the first quarter, but Serbia enjoys a 31-23 lead over USA
• SERBIA 31-23: Bogdan Bogdanovic gets the teardrop to fall
• SERBIA 29-23: Filip Petrusev drills two charities
• SERBIA 27-23: Steph Curry steps back for his fifth long bomb
• SERBIA 27-20: Nikola Jokic with an easy layup in transition
• SERBIA 25-20: Anthony Davis goes 1/2 from the line anew
• SERBIA 25-19: Anthony Davis splits his free throws
• SERBIA 25-18: Nikola Jokic goes 2/2 from the line
• SERBIA 23-18: Raining threes in the first quarter as Aleksa Avramovic nails another one from deep
• SERBIA 20-18: Aleksa Avramovic lays it in, LeBron James gets on the board with a three
• SERBIA 18-15: Back-to-back hits by Bogdan Bogdanovic
• SERBIA 16-15: Bogdan Bogdanovic joins the three-ball party
• USA 15-13: Steph Curry still on fire as he fires another three-pointer
• SERBIA 13-12: The shootout continues as Aleksa Avramovic and Steph Curry trade triples
• SERBIA 10-9: Steph Curry sinks his second triple of the game
• SERBIA 10-6: Ognjen Dobric swishes from long range
• SERBIA 7-6: Devin Booker splits his foul shots
• SERBIA 7-5: Nikola Jokic slams it home
• 5-5: Steph Curry counters with a trey
• SERBIA 5-2: Filip Petrusev walks into a three-pointer
• 2-2: Bogdan Bogdanovic answers with his own mid-range hit
• USA 2-0: Steph Curry starts things off with a jumper

Starting lineups

• USA: Steph Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
• SERBIA: Aleksa Avramovic, Ognjen Dobric, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Jokic, Filip Petrusev

Preview

This highly anticipated semifinal match between USA and Serbia marks their second meeting in this year’s Olympics after going up against each other in their Group C opener last July 28, where the Americans cruised to a 110-84 victory.

However, don’t expect another walk in the park for USA, which recently obliterated Brazil in their quarterfinal duel, 122-87.

Like the Americans, the Serbians are enjoying a fiery three-game winning streak after completing a thrilling come-from-behind overtime win against Australia, 95-90, in the quarterfinals.

Look for three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic to leave it all on the floor for Serbia as he tussles anew with his fellow NBA superstars LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid, among others.

Meanwhile, expect another total team effort from the powerhouse Americans as they try to sustain their high-octane offense. 

Game time is 3 am. – Rappler.com