Team USA played its fifth and final exhibition game on Monday against Germany before it heads to Paris for the official start of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Once again, it won, but at times, it was a struggle.
It led 29-17 at the end of the first quarter and still led by 11 points at halftime, but Germany mounted a run afterward and led by one point after three quarters. With 4:23 left in the final frame, the score was tied at 80, and there was a distinct possibility the United States would lose.
That is when it turned to LeBron James to save the day, much as he did on Saturday against South Sudan. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar scored its last 11 points, giving him 20 points overall, to ensure it escaped with a victory.
LeBron James TOOK OVER down the stretch in #USABMNT‘s win against Germany 🇺🇸
👑 20 PTS (11 in 4Q)
👑 6 REB
👑 4 AST
👑 8-11 FGM pic.twitter.com/uCX2DDzWeU— NBA (@NBA) July 22, 2024
Off the bench, Anthony Davis continued to provide a lift with 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
Anthony Davis is the best defender in the world. End of story. pic.twitter.com/70LSmAhx2d
— 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞 (@SixthManJake) July 22, 2024
Jayson Tatum hits Anthony Davis for the AND-1 💪
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 22, 2024
Jayson Tatum hits Anthony Davis for the AND-1 💪
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 22, 2024
AD ties it up with the and one💥 pic.twitter.com/s8Gx7fv9zr
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 22, 2024
Team USA will now make the trip to France and prepare for its first contest of group play, which will take place on July 28 versus Nikola Jokić and Serbia.