Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker did not have his best game, but once again showed he can be relied upon in Team USA’s 95-91 comeback victory over Serbia in the Olympic semifinals Thursday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Booker, looking to build off a team-high 18 points in Team USA’s quarterfinals win over Brazil Tuesday, got his fifth start of the Olympics alongside Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Joel Embiid, the U.S.’s most frequently used starting lineup. However, the U.S. struggled through the first three quarters with its traditional starting and bench units, falling behind as much as 17 and trailing 76-63 going into the fourth quarter.
Then, coach Steve Kerr went to a lineup of Curry, Booker, James, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis to open the fourth quarter. Embiid checked in for Davis three minutes into the period and the U.S. ended up winning the fourth quarter 32-15. Booker started a lot of the momentum for this run on a huge 3-pointer to cut the Serbian lead to five with 7:17 to go.
Book knocks it down & it’s a 5-point game.
???? USA Network + Peacock
???????? #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Basketball
pic.twitter.com/wm8X57F9iX— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 8, 2024
Curry hit the go-ahead basket later in the quarter and finished with a game-high 36 points, cashing in nine 3-pointers, while James had a triple double of 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
CLUTCH DOWN THE STRETCH.
Relive Team USA’s INCREDIBLE comeback against Serbia to advance to the gold medal game! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/tBDMxWWOXZ
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024
Booker ended the game with six points on 2-of-4 shooting and an assist, playing the entire fourth quarter alongside four MVPs.
Final stats against Serbia:
???????? Durant: 9 PTS, 50% FG, 3 REB, 1 AST
???????? Booker: 6 PTS, 50% FG, 1 AST, +16???? @USANetwork & @peacock pic.twitter.com/4ouMBwvU2l
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 8, 2024
He also was a +16 plus/minus in his 24 minutes, giving him by far the team’s best plus/minus throughout both the Olympics and exhibition play.
Devin Booker is now a team-best +112 through 10 games for Team USA. The next-closest is Steph Curry at +82.
Kevin Durant, despite only playing in 5 games for the US, is tied with LeBron James for 3rd at +77
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) August 8, 2024
Team USA now will play Victor Wembanyama and France in the gold medal game on Saturday (Aug. 10) at 12:30 p.m. MST, as the U.S. looks for its fifth-straight gold. Booker will be going for his second straight after winning one in 2021 in Tokyo.
Here’s how Booker’s performance played out:
Booker’s Performance
Booker’s first point came from the free-throw line two minutes into the game after he was fouled on a runner, but missed the first free throw. The next possession, he found Curry for 3, part of a stretch of 14 points in three minutes for Curry. The U.S. struggled mightily defensively and offensively outside of Curry, trailing 31-23 at the end of the first quarter. Booker played seven minutes in the first quarter, finishing with one point on 0-of-2 shooting and one assist.
Booker scored his first basket with 5:53 remaining in the second quarter on an and-one layup off an assist by James, but missed the free throw. This bucket cut the Serbia lead to 42-29 after the Serbians started the second quarter on an 11-2 run. Booker had three points on 1-of-3 shooting and one assist in nine first half minutes, as the U.S. was down 54-43 heading into the break.
Booker did not do much in his five minutes in the third period. Serbia led the U.S. 76-63 going into the final period.
In the fourth, Booker cut the Serbian lead down to 78-73 with 7:17 remaining after his 3-pointer, seconds after Durant cashed a 3 of his own and the U.S. retained possession after an off-ball foul. Booker did not record a stat the rest of the night, but did play excellent defense to help limit Serbia to only 15 points in the quarter after the Serbians were scorching hot from deep all game long.
After Booker’s shot, Durant made another jumper and Embiid next got rolling with seven straight points. James tied the game at 84 on a layup off an assist by Durant with 3:39 remaining. Curry gave the U.S. an 87-86 lead with a 3-pointer with 2:22 remaining. James then hit a circus layup and Curry took a steal the length of the floor for a layup to give the U.S. a 91-86 advantage.
Durant iced the game with a jumper to put the U.S. ahead by four with 34 seconds to go. Curry sealed it with two free throws with eight seconds to go as Team USA put on a fourth-quarter masterclass.
Team USA comes back from down 17 to advance to gold medal game with 95-91 win over Serbia
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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
