Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Friday, August 9th.
Team USA Basketball fans were witnesses to an instant classic on Thursday afternoon as the Men’s National Team pulled off a thrilling 95-91 comeback victory over Serbia. It took everything the Americans had to secure the win, thanks in large part to a herculean effort from Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry.
The Chef was cooking up something special in this one, draining nine three-pointers en route to a 36-point performance—marking the second-highest scoring output in U.S. Olympic history. His biggest moment came late in the fourth quarter when he nailed a crucial three-pointer that gave Team USA the lead and shifted the game in their favor.
Stephen Curry go ahead three?
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 8, 2024
Stephen Curry go ahead three #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/kUHizyXzaU
After the victory was secured, the team of superstars were in full celebration mode. Head coach Steve Kerr, who has seen his fair share of high-stakes games, called it “one of the greatest basketball games” he’s ever been a part of. Curry echoed that sentiment, describing the team’s victory as “special” and highlighting the collective effort that fueled their comeback.
“To dig deep like we did with this group and get a win, it’s special.”#USABMNT pic.twitter.com/37OV1k8JN2
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 8, 2024
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, August 9th:
His first taste of the Games left him perplexed, in a sense. Yes, Curry is recognized as the finest shooter this world ever produced, but international basketball has a way of playing tricks on that title. The game is shorter, as is the 3-point line. And on a team filled with stars, you don’t get 35 minutes a night (far from it actually) to clean up a mess.
Until Thursday. Until Curry hit the game’s first basket, then kept rolling: 14 of the USA’s first 15 points, 17 points in the game’s first 8 1/2 minutes, 20 at halftime, 36 for the game.
Two moments:
1. When he drilled a 3 from the corner in the first quarter and, classic Steph, turned to look at the bench as the ball fell through the net.
2. When he canned another 3 off a screen to put USA ahead 87-86, then made a steal and layup a few minutes later to stretch the advantage to five with 1:41 left.
“That lineup, with AD, ‘Bron, KD, myself and Book, there was a little bit more ball pressure,” Curry said. “We switched more than we did the whole game, just to try to keep bodies on bodies, even if you have a small guarding Jokić or guarding the other big fella (Nikola Milutinov). You don’t give up any advantages. And then, we just made them take tough shots. The first half, one small breakdown, and somebody had an open look, and it went in, over and over and over again. Fourth quarter was tough shots. We still couldn’t rebound, so we have to clean that up. But, pressure and intensity. And we had a lot of speed to turn defense into offense, and that helped us.”
“To be able to coach LeBron rather than coach against him, it’s so amazing,” Kerr said. “And just to see them all together, performing, sharing the ball and competing together, fighting the way they have to fight. You know, these are these are all future Hall of Famers. And it’s just so fun to to watch them day after day prepare for this and be so engaged and also enjoying the process so much. These guys are are incredible and they’re obviously they’re used to trying to beat each other. So I think they take a lot of pleasure in being on the same team for once.”
NBA Christmas Day games for the 2024-25 season, per sources:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2024
Spurs at Knicks
Timberwolves at Mavericks
76ers at Celtics
Lakers at Warriors
Nuggets at Suns
The silver medalists in the Tokyo Games, France now faces the United States for gold after the the Americans survived upset-minded Serbia, 95-91 in Thursday’s other semifinal.
Blood stained the neckline of Wembanyama’s jersey after the game, courtesy of a fresh cut on the left side of his neck. He did plenty of sweating during the game and was holding back tears when it was all over.
Blood, sweat and tears. How fitting.
“In our national anthem, we talk about blood,” Wembanyama said. “We’re willing to spill blood on the court. So, it’s no big deal. If it allows us to win gold, I’m offering. Take all of it.”
“I bet you all 12 of us could find one game where we went into a hostile environment,” Curry said. “LeBron coming into our place in 2016 (Game 7, 2016 Finals), whether it’s me, us (Golden State Warriors) going to Boston (Game 6, 2022 Finals).
“Wherever you aim it, somebody’s going to have a building that they went into and had to get a win and we’re all going to have to do it together against France on their own court.”
But it’s hard to argue with Kerr on this one. The game had everything: there were truly dominant performances from Curry, Jokić, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James. There was a thrilling comeback, with the game coming down to the final minute. And of course, it’s hard to beat the stakes of the Olympics stage ... a loss would have dashed Team USA’s dreams of winning gold, and staying on top of the international basketball world.
That loss never came though, thanks in large part to Curry. And a great basketball game it most certainly was.
Greatness. Thank you @StephenCurry30 pic.twitter.com/ZpFaRFq5Ri
— SplashBrosMuse (@SplashBrosMuse) August 8, 2024
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