Paris 2024 Olympics: Basketball breakdown, highlights, stats and top performers for 28 July

Day two of men’s basketball at Paris 2024 featured a pair of games on Sunday 28 July at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. While the United States began their quest for a fifth consecutive gold medal, South Sudan made a statement by winning their first Olympic basketball game in the nation’s brief history.

South Sudan, also known as the Bright Stars, defeated Puerto Rico 90-79 behind 19 points and seven rebounds from guard Carlik Jones, supported by Marial Shayok with 15 points of his own. The duo of Jose Alvarado (26) and Tremont Waters (18) combined for 44 points. The difference in the game, however, was the rebounding of South Sudan. The Bright Stars grabbed 55 rebounds and had 24 second-chance points compared to 37 rebounds and two second-chance points by Puerto Rico.

Team USA began their campaign for a fifth straight gold medal with a decisive 110-84 victory over Nikola Jokic and Serbia. This collection of NBA stars, who looked susceptible during their undefeated warm-up series ahead of the Games, certainly looked like a team capable of winning gold. Shots were falling early and often from downtown as the United States shot a scorching 18 for 32 from the floor.

Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, tallied 20 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals in the loss. Kevin Durant and LeBron James combined for 44 points for Team USA. Durant, who is the United States’ men’s all-time leader in Olympic scoring, did not play in any of the team’s five tune-up games but still came off the bench to shoot a ridiculous 89 per cent from the field.

Game of the Day: South Sudan vs Puerto Rico

While Team USA put on a show against Serbia, we have seen that story before and often throughout Olympic history. What South Sudan, a country that gained independence in July 2011, accomplished in Lille was historic by winning their first ever Olympic basketball game in their first ever appearance at the Games. The Bright Stars had given the United States a scare during warm-up games prior to Paris 2024, then proved on Sunday that this was no fluke.

Jones continues to make a name for himself on the international stage. He recorded a triple-double against Team USA in the tune-up series and continued his strong play on 28 July, stuffing the stat sheet with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists against Puerto Rico. South Sudan’s next game comes on Wednesday 31 July against the United States.

Player of the Day: Kevin Durant

Based on his performance against Serbia, one would not have been able to tell that Durant missed all five of Team USA’s warm-up games. Coming off the bench, the 35-year-old scored 23 points on just nine shots to lead his team in scoring. He shot 89 per cent from the field, including a perfect 5-5 from three-point land. Team USA’s offence struggled during the tune-up series, but it seems like adding one of the greatest scorers in basketball history back into the fold paid immediate dividends.

"Everybody played their role pretty well. My role was to come in and provide spacing and shot-making for the team and I'm glad I was able to knock them down,” Durant said. "I've been playing ball my whole life, so you just simplify it and bring it back to just basketball at the end of the day. I just try to follow the game plan, be there for my teammates on the defensive end, and when the ball touches my hand, be aggressive."

Olympic Basketball Results for Sunday 28 July

South Sudan 90, Puerto Rico 79

United States 110, Serbia 84

Upcoming men’s Olympic Basketball schedule

There is no men’s basketball scheduled at Paris 2024 for Monday 29 July. Play will resume on Tuesday 30 July featuring four games.

Spain vs Greece

5:00 a.m. EST

Canada vs Australia

7:30 a.m. EST

Japan vs France

11:15 a.m. EST

Brazil vs Germany

3:00 a.m. EST