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USA vs. Serbia basketball final score, results: Stephen Curry's 36-point explosion leads miraculous semifinal comeback

Kyle Irving

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USA vs. Serbia basketball final score, results: Stephen Curry's 36-point explosion leads miraculous semifinal comeback image

It took a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback, but the United States keeps its gold medal hopes alive.

Team USA had been dominated by Serbia through the first three quarters of Thursday's semifinal. Behind Nikola Jokic's offensive brilliance and Bogdan Bogdanovic's fearless scoring, Serbia led by as many as 17 points and went into the final period with a 15-point lead.

With its back against the wall, the United States found another gear and outscored Serbia 32-15 in the fourth quarter to pull off a memorable come-from-behind-win, 95-91.

Stephen Curry kept Team USA in it the entire night, erupting for 36 points and nine 3-pointers. Joel Embiid started the fourth quarter strong before Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant closed it out like the leaders they are for their country.

James finished with the fourth triple-double in Olympic history, and Durant knocked down a late mid-range jumper to put Serbia away.

Now, the United States will take on France with a fifth consecutive gold medal on the line.

If you missed any of the action from the thriller between Team USA and Serbia, The Sporting News has you covered with updates, highlights, and more below.

MORE: Watch the 2024 Olympics live with FuboTV (Free trial)

USA vs. Serbia basketball final score

 Q1Q2Q3Q4Final
USA2320203295
Serbia3123221591

USA vs. Serbia live updates, highlights from 2024 Olympic men's basketball

(All times Eastern)

Final: USA 95, Serbia 91

4:49 p.m.: And the United States holds on in a thriller! Joel Embiid's start to the fourth quarter catalyzed the comeback and Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant closed it out. As it was written.

Team USA's gold medal hopes stay alive behind 36 points and nine 3-pointers from Curry. Embiid added 19 points on 11 shots and LeBron James finished with a triple-double of 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Nikola Jokic had 17 points, 11 assists and five rebounds and Bogdan Bogdanovic was lethal with 20 points, but Serbia couldn't close it out.

4:46 p.m.: Kevin Durant hit a massive pull-up midrange jumper to extend USA's lead to four with 30 seconds to go but Nikola Jokic answered with an easy two. Serbia fouled Stephen Curry and he went to the free throw line and hit them both. Team USA leads Serbia 95-91 with 8.2 seconds to go.

4:40 p.m.: Stephen Curry touches every part of the rim on a 3-pointer, LeBron James goes coast-to-coast for a layup, then Curry picks off a pass and goes the other way for a fastbreak layup. All of a sudden, Team USA leads 91-86 with 1:41 to play.

4:37 p.m.: LeBron James asserts his way to the rim and ties the game! Team USA has erased Serbia's lead and knots the score at 84 with 3:39 remaining.

4:36 p.m.: Joel Embiid makes up for a few bad plays on the defensive end with a clutch midrange jumper. The United States is within two, trailing 84-82 with four minutes to play.

4:28 p.m.: Kevin Durant hit a 3-pointer coming off an Anthony Davis screen and Nikola Jokic was called for a foul trying to fight through it. That gave Team USA the ball back and Devin Booker hit another 3-pointer to give his team life.

Nikola Jokic now has four fouls — one away from disqualification. The United States trails 78-73 with seven minutes remaining.

End of third quarter: Serbia 76, USA 63

4:20 p.m.: And just like that, Serbia gets the lead back up to double digits before the end of the half. It has shot the lights out from 3-point range, knocking down 15 of its 31 attempts. Bogdan Bogdanovic has thrashed Team USA for 15 points and he's letting them hear it after every bucket. The United States is in trouble.

4:15 p.m.: Team USA has momentum for the first time in the entire game and trails by six, 67-61, with under two minutes to go in the quarter. Stephen Curry continues to keep it alive with 27 points and eight 3-pointers. Nikola Jokic picked up his third foul while trying to back down Joel Embiid. Reminder that the foul limit is five in the Olympics.

4:05 p.m.: The United States got a stop and Joel Embiid hit a 3-pointer to open the second half. The deficit is down to single digits.

Halftime: Serbia 54, USA 43

3:47 p.m.: An and-one from LeBron James gives Team USA a little bit of momentum going into the half but Serbia has controlled the entire game. Aleksa Avramovic has killed the United States, scoring 15 points with four 3-pointers in the first half. Nikola Jokic has done a tremendous job finding open teammates with seven assists.

Stephen Curry is trying to keep Team USA in the game with 20 points but he is the only American in double figures. Kevin Durant has only taken one shot attempt and has zero points. Jayson Tatum has not played yet.

3:41 p.m.: LeBron James buries a 3 and Joel Embiid throws down an emphatic dunk to force a quick Serbia timeout. Team USA has cut the deficit to 10, 47-37, with 2:51 to play in the half.

3:39 p.m.: The United States just had a brutal five-point swing.

Jrue Holiday passed up an easy assist for an Anthony Edwards breakaway layup to kick to a trailing Stephen Curry, who missed a 3-pointer. Bogdan Bogdanovic went down the other end, buried a triple and hit Carmelo Anthony's signature 3-point celebration with the former Team USA star sitting courtside.

Serbia leads Team USA 47-32 with 3:30 to go in the half.

3:34 p.m.: LeBron James dishes a dime to Devin Booker for an and-one to give Team USA a little bit of life. Nikola Jokic has been too much for the United States' defense to handle with nine points and six assists already. Serbia remains in the lead, 42-29, with 5:51 remaining in the half.

3:28 p.m.: Serbia is taking it to the United States right now. It opens the second quarter on an 8-2 run as it continues to punish Team USA in the paint. Serbia leads the United States 39-25 in the first two minutes of the period — Team USA's largest deficit of the tournament.

End of first quarter: Serbia 31, USA 23

3:21 p.m.: Stephen Curry scorched the net with 17 points and five 3-pointers in the first quarter but the United States trails after one because of Serbia's tough shot making. Serbia is shooting 65 percent from the field and 56 percent from 3 heading into the second quarter. Bogdan Bogdanovic's nine points lead the team.

3:16 p.m.: Despite Stephen Curry's scorching start, the United States has not been able to get a stop. Serbia is shooting 10-for-14 from the field and 5-for-8 from 3, led by six points and five assists from Nikola Jokic. Team USA is trailing 29-23 with 1:29 remaining in the quarter.

3:07 p.m.: The Stephen Curry Game is finally here.

Curry has absolutely exploded to start this one, scoring 14 of Team USA's first 15 points with four 3-pointers. He didn't even have to see the last one go through the hoop, doing his signature look away with the ball in flight. Team USA still trails Serbia 18-15 midway through the first.

3:02 p.m.: Stephen Curry gets the United States going with a midrange jumper, and we're under way!

Pregame

3:00 p.m.: Serbia will start Bogdan Bogdanovic, Ognjen Dobric, Aleksa Avramovic, Filip Petrusev and Nikola Jokic.

2:45 p.m.: The United States will stick with the same starting five: Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Joel Embiid.

James (eye) and Embiid (ankle) are both healthy enough to play.

2:00 p.m.: France is officially waiting for the winner of USA vs. Serbia in the gold medal match after pulling out a close four-point win over Germany in the first semifinal game.

1:00 p.m.: Team USA is headed to Bercy Arena for its semifinals matchup with Nikola Jokic and Serbia.

MORE: USA vs. Serbia basketball prediction: Can Nikola Jokic pull off an upset?

How to watch USA vs. Serbia at 2024 Paris Olympics

  • Date: Thursday, August 8
  • Time: 3 p.m. EST
  • TV channel (USA): NBC
  • Livestream (USA): Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo
  • TV channel (Canada): CBC
  • Livestream (Canada): CBC Gem, Fubo
  • TV Channel (Australia): Nine Network
  • Livestream (Australia): 9Now, Stan Sport

Fans in the United States can watch USA vs. Serbia on NBC on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. ET. 

For those streaming the game in the U.S., Peacock and NBCOlympics.com will broadcast the match. Fubo is also available and has a free trial.

Fans in Canada can watch the semifinal contest on CBC and can stream through CBC Gem and Fubo. 

USA basketball Olympic schedule 2024

Team USA was a part of Group C, which included Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico. The team went a perfect 3-0, finishing first in the group. 

DateGameTime (ET)TV channel
July 28USA 110, Serbia 84——
July 31USA 103, South Sudan 86——
Aug. 3USA 104, Puerto Rico 83——
Aug. 6USA 122, Brazil 87 ——
Aug. 8USA vs. Serbia3 p.m.NBC, CBC

Men's Olympic basketball schedule 2024

Tuesday, Aug. 6

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
QuarterfinalGermany 76, Greece 63—
QuarterfinalSerbia 95, Australia 90—
QuarterfinalFrance 82, Canada 73—
QuarterfinalUnited States 122, Brazil 87—

Thursday, Aug. 8

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
SemifinalFrance vs. Germany11:30 a.m.
SemifinalUnited States vs. Serbia3 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
Bronze medal gameTBD vs. TBD5 a.m.
Gold medal gameTBD vs. TBD3:30 p.m.

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Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.