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LeBron James, the all-time NBA scoring leader, registered a game-high 25 points, including the deciding points on a driving layup with eight seconds on the clock read more
 "How South Sudan nearly stunned the USA basketball team in a warm-up game")
United Staes' guard Anthony Edwards (L) and South Sudan's guard Carlik Jones (R) during an exhibition basketball game between at the o2Arena in London. AP
South Sudan’s basketball team nearly shocked United States team of NBA superstars before losing by a single point, 101-100, in an Olympics warm-up game in London.
LeBron James, 39, the all-time NBA scoring leader, registered a game-high 25 points, including the deciding points on a driving layup with eight seconds on the clock at the O2 Arena.
South Sudan, who led by 14 points (58-44) at half-time, took a late lead after going on a eight point scoring run and were poised to pull off one of the greatest shocks in international basketball before James saved the day.
“The ending was good for us – just to feel that, to feel what it’s going to feel like in Paris,” US coach Steve Kerr said.
“Good experience for us. Good reminder that when we play against teams, it’s the biggest experience of their lives and we have to expect everyone to play like that.”
JT Thor, who has played for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA for the past three seasons, sank a three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to put South Sudan 100-99 ahead.
After James made the winning shot, South Sudan had one final possession but Carlik Jones missed a jumper with six seconds remaining and Wenyen Gabriel missed on two put-back attempts before the final buzzer.
“South Sudan was amazing,” Kerr said. “I did not do a great job of preparing my team. We did not focus enough on what they are capable of and that’s on me.
“I think that really allowed South Sudan to gain confidence early.
“Once we turned it up in the second half, they had already knocked down a bunch of threes and were feeling really good about themselves.”
The Americans will face South Sudan again in the Olympics group stages on July 31 at Lille.
At 39, 40 in a row
LeBron’s game-winning layup marked the 40th consecutive time that the Americans have won an international game with him in uniform.
Playing in the same building as he did during the 2012 London Olympics, James came up big down the stretch.
In that gold medal game against Spain in 2012, James hit a game-sealing 3-pointer with about two minutes left to cap a season where he won NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, an NBA title with the Miami Heat and Olympic gold.
Respect for South Sudan
South Sudan got this Olympic berth based on their World Cup finish last year. Their national federation is led by former NBA player Luol Deng, and the team is coached by former NBA guard and now Houston assistant coach Royal Ivey.
James gave both men a ton of credit postgame.
“To have that representation, to have that type of leadership over there, teaching them the right way how to play the game, that’s good. That’s great, actually,” James said. “The game is worldwide. There’s not one place that you don’t see the game being played. I think that’s the beauty of it. The game of basketball brings together so many people.”
Waiting for Durant
Kevin Durant was on the floor getting some warmup shots up, but the Americans were again without the three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Durant returned to practice Friday after about three weeks of dealing with a calf strain. It’s possible that he plays in the final US tune-up on Monday against Germany in London. Otherwise, he’ll go into the Olympics not having gotten any true game action since April 28 when his Phoenix Suns were eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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English (US) ·