Team USA’s pre-Olympic schedule in London will continue on Saturday with an exhibition matchup against South Sudan, featuring a star-studded American lineup. The Americans will play a fifth practice match on Monday against Germany. They have already played and won three exhibition games (against Canada, Australia, and Serbia). The first Olympic basketball match will take place in Paris on July 28 between Team USA and Serbia. The Olympics begin on Saturday, July 27.
Team USA will be acquainting itself with a South Sudan squad inside its own Olympic division. In group stage play in France, the Americans will compete against Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico in an attempt to move to the knockout round and win their fifth gold medal in a row.
The United States is a huge favorite over South Sudan. Here’s how to see the display on Saturday.
Details of Team USA vs. South Sudan
Time: 3:30 PM Eastern Time Date: July 20, a Saturday
Location: London’s O2
TV station: Fox; live stream available for free on fubo
Odds: O/U: 185.5 | USA -45.5
One of Team USA’s top talents is coming closer to returning to the court. On Friday, Kevin Durant resumed his Team USA workouts. For the duration of these tune-up games before the Olympics begin, Durant has been out due to a calf ailment. Durant may play his first exhibition game on Monday against Germany or on Saturday against South Sudan.
Even while Durant’s availability won’t have a big effect on Team USA’s prospects of winning gold in Paris, having him back before the Olympics begins is a great boost. However, having him is undoubtedly beneficial. With 435 points, Durant is Team USA’s all-time top scorer in the Olympics. He now has three gold medals and is aiming to get a fourth. Additionally, this squad has struggled at times during preseason games; LeBron James and Stephen Curry would have a better time playing with another playmaker like Durant. His stature on defense would also come in rather handy should and when the US confronts France.
Even though Durant has been out for a few weeks, Steve Kerr, the head coach of Team USA, has never hinted that Durant would be replaced on the squad.
Over the weekend, Kerr said, “We feel good that [Durant] is going to be OK, so it’s not even something we’ve discussed at this point.”
Although Clippers president Lawrence Frank said that Kawhi Leonard seemed OK during workouts, Team USA handled Leonard differently, replacing him with Derrick White. At USA Basketball’s discretion, Leonard left the team, stating, “We just felt that we had to pivot.”
With Durant’s impending comeback, focus is now on Team USA’s starting lineup. Although they have experimented with a few different combinations in preseason play, James, Curry, and Joel Embiid have established themselves as the core members of the starting lineup. It’s reasonable to believe that Durant will start, giving Kerr the opportunity to occupy the fifth place as his comeback approaches. Thus far, he has started Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, and Anthony Edwards; any one of them would be a wise choice. Given the combined scoring output of the four starters, Holiday would be a wise decision to play alongside Curry in the backcourt to provide some extra defense. Edwards might also take that position. Tatum would offer you more size, and Booker would bring scoring, but he isn’t as good a defender as Holiday and Edwards.
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