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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Marvi

LeBron James, Anthony Davis highlights from USA-South Sudan exhibition game

Anthony Davis LeBron James South Sudan USA Basketball Sudan Team USA Basketball

The United States men’s Olympic basketball team headed to London for another exhibition game on Saturday, this time against South Sudan. It was expected to be a no-sweat tune-up game that would result in an easy win.

Instead, South Sudan, a very young nation that only gained its independence from Sudan in 2011, put itself in position to pull off possibly the biggest upset in international basketball history.

It took a 16-point lead over the stunned Americans, who had lots of trouble converting shots from the outside. But Team USA chipped away in the second half, scoring 37 points in the third quarter, and in the end, a familiar face made sure it would end the game with the result it was expecting.

With his team down 100-99, LeBron James converted the game-winning layup with eight seconds left, and it stopped South Sudan on defense afterward to earn a 101-100 victory.

James had cruised in prior exhibition games, but on Saturday, he needed to bring his A game, and that’s exactly what he did. He shot 10-of-14 from the field to score 25 points while adding seven assists and six rebounds in 23 minutes.

James’ Los Angeles Lakers superstar teammate Anthony Davis turned in another strong game with 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, as he helped spark the United States’ rally.

Davis also helped Team USA get that final stop right before the horn to ensure victory.

Team USA will have one more exhibition game on Monday versus Germany before it begins official Olympic group play on July 28 against Serbia.

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