MIES (Switzerland) - There have been some legendary games in international basketball over the years.
But has there ever been one that can match the Semi-Final between the USA and Serbia at the Olympics on August 8, 2024, in Paris, which the Americans won, 95-91?
Steve Kerr gives his opinion his the Netflix series Court of Gold.
"That was probably the greatest game I've ever been a part of," he says.
Steve Kerr has won three NBA titles as a player with Michael Jordan's Bulls, two with Tim Duncan's Spurs, and four as the Warriors' coach. He also won two Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball. And still, when he looks back on this amazing resume, USA vs. Serbia is what comes to his great basketball mind.
"Everything on the line, could not be topped."
Viewers relive the game that had basketball fans on the edge of their seats.
Serbia led by as many as 17 points in the contest and they still had a double-digit advantage going to the fourth quarter.
“Are we really about to lose this game?” asks Stephen Curry.
With Serbia leading 76-63, he feared the worst.
Yet USA, with legends like Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, were equipped to deal with the precarious situation. It really looked like a few open three-point shots that Serbia missed could have sealed the deal for Coach Pesic's squad late in the fourth quarter. But they missed them, and the USA did not.
With 2:24 to play, Curry's ninth three-pointer of the game put the Americans on top for good. James and Curry followed with layups and the USA claimed a heart-thumping victory.
In addition to Curry's 36 points, James had arguably his best effort for the USA with a triple-double. He had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Joel Embiid also had his best game for USA, scoring 19 points.
Nikola Jokic had 17 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Bogdan Bogdanovic poured in 20 points.
USA followed up that dramatic encounter with another one against France in the Gold Medal Game and won, 98-87.
FIBA