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2024 Paris Olympics

Devin Booker excels on both ends, leads Team USA in assists in big win over South Sudan

© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker once again showed he is willing to play any role for Team USA in their 103-86 victory over South Sudan.

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Booker got his second-straight Olympic start and had a team-high six assists (five in the first half) to go along with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, a rebound and a steal in a team-high 22 minutes. Booker has now been in double-figures in both Olympic games after recording 12 points in Team USA’s win over Serbia Sunday.

With the U.S. changing the starting lineup to Booker, Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Booker took on the role of the primary on-ball defender and excelled at it right out of the gates. He also ended the game with a +9 plus/minus, the only positive plus/minus among Team USA’s starters.

Booker’s main matchup was Carlik Jones, who had a triple double in South Sudan’s near upset win against the U.S. in an exhibition two weeks ago. Jones ended the night strong with 19 points on 8-of-19 shooting and seven assists, but struggled in the first half, going 2-for-7 from the field.

Once Kevin Durant gets fully healthy and back into the starting lineup, Booker put on a performance that could prove he should remain Team USA’s fifth starter because of his ability to do all the little things, which tonight heavily involved defending and facilitating.

Reviewing Booker’s Performance

With U.S. was rolling early, Booker got a steal and found James in transition for an easy dunk, part of six straight U.S. points in the first minute of the game.

Right before subbing out with 4:10 to go in the first quarter, Booker recorded another assist to James in transition to tie the game at 10 after South Sudan got themselves back into it. Booker ended up checking back in with over a minute to go in the period after Jrue Holiday picked up two early fouls and had another assist to Bam Adebayo with 13 seconds remaining.

Booker finished the quarter with three assists, a steal and a rebound, as the U.S. closed the quarter strong and led 26-14.

Booker kept up his dime dropping in the second quarter, finding Durant for 3 with 9:21 in the second quarter to give the U.S. a 31-14 lead. Booker’s first shot attempt of the game came with 8:07 to go, missing an open corner 3. A few possessions later, Booker found Derrick White for a 3, his fifth assist in only 10 minutes. Booker subbed out with 6:47 left in the second and didn’t return before halftime. He went scoreless in his 10 minutes in the first half, but had a team-high five assists and the Americans led 55-36.

In the third period, Booker missed an easy jumper, but responded with a 3-pointer on the next possession for his first points of the game to give the U.S. a 60-41 lead with 7:12 remaining in the third. He checked out with 6:42 to go in the quarter.

Booker was back in to start the fourth and hit a jumper off another assist by James to give the Americans a 77-58 advantage with 8:54 left in the game. After great defense on Jones to force a turnover, Booker made a tough and-one layup in transition and the U.S. led 85-68 with 6:58 remaining after the free throw. He got into double figures with a smooth jumper with 5:10 remaining to extend the American lead to 91-72. A little later, Booker made a beautiful pass to Holiday for a corner 3 to give him his team-high sixth assist. Booker subbed out with 1:59 left in the contest.

Team USA will next play on Saturday against Puerto Rico at 8:15 a.m. MST, their final Group C game.

Team USA bench stands out in 103-86 win over South Sudan

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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

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