USA vs. South Sudan final score, results: Bam Adebayo's two-way dominance secures spot in Olympic quarterfinals

Kyle Irving

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USA vs. South Sudan final score, results: Bam Adebayo's two-way dominance secures spot in Olympic quarterfinals image

The United States is moving on to the Knockout Stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Team USA has clinched a spot in the quarterfinals after a commanding 103-86 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday.

Head coach Steve Kerr elected to shake up the starting lineup, replacing Joel Embiid and Jrue Holiday with Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum. Just like Tatum's last game, Embiid never saw the floor.

The United States continued to dominate despite the changing rotations. Bam Adebayo anchored the bench with 18 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal as Team USA's second unit outscored South Sudan's 66-14. Stephen Curry only had one made field goal and three points but the USA's depth prevailed with six different players scoring double figures.

South Sudan fought hard in the second half and trimmed Team USA's lead to as little as 10 points but couldn't get over the hump. It will now need to win its final Group Stage game against Serbia to have a chance to move on in the tournament.

If you missed any of the action from this game, The Sporting News has you covered with updates, highlights and more from USA vs. South Sudan below.

MORE: Inside South Sudan's basketball roster | Meet South Sudan star, Duke recruit Khaman Maluach

USA vs. South Sudan basketball final score

Group CQ1Q2Q3Q4F
South Sudan 1422212986
United States26291830103

USA vs. South Sudan live updates, highlights from 2024 Olympics

All times Eastern.

Final: USA 103, South Sudan 86

4:55 p.m.: South Sudan deserves credit for putting up a fight in the second half but Team USA's talent was just too much to handle.

Bam Adebayo led the way with 18 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal, continuing his elite two-way play. Kevin Durant (14 points), Anthony Edwards (13 points), LeBron James (12 points), Devin Booker and Derrick White (10 points apiece) joined him in double figures scoring.

The United States' bench made all the difference, scoring 66 of the team's 103 points.

South Sudan got 24 points from Nuni Omot, 18 points and seven assists from Carlik Jones, and 16 points from Bul Kuol but its 19 turnovers and lackluster defense prevented it from making the same noise it did against Team USA in the exhibition game.

4:51 p.m.: Anthony Edwards put on a quick show before the final buzzer. His full-court pressure forced another steal and he finished a dunk on the other end. South Sudan responded with a basket and Edwards went right back down and buried a triple.

4:40 p.m.: Kevin Durant just threaded the needle on a dime to Anthony Davis for a massive dunk to put an exclamation point on this game midway through the fourth quarter.

4:36 p.m.: Stephen Curry finally got his first field goal to drop, then Devin Booker finished an and-one layup after a Team USA stop. The foul was on Wenyen Gabriel, his fifth personal to disqualify South Sudan's starting center. 

Team USA's lead quickly grew to 19, up 87-68 with 6:20 remaining.

4:34 p.m.: South Sudan rattled off an 8-0 run to cut Team USA's lead to 10 but Kevin Durant answered with a 3-pointer to halt momentum. There are eight minutes remaining in the game.

End of third quarter: USA 73, South Sudan 57

4:25 p.m.: The United States' bench has scored 53 of its 73 points heading into the fourth quarter. Team USA's depth is what separates itself from every other team in the tournament and today is a perfect example of that.

4:21 p.m.: Derrick White continues to be the glue for Team USA today. He has 10 points, he's buried all three of his 3-point attempts, and he has three steals and a block. He just dished a lob to Bam Adebayo for a dunk that keeps the United States in front, 73-57, with under a minute remaining in the quarter.

4:06 p.m.: South Sudan isn't going away yet! Bul Kuol is on fire from 3, burying a pair of triples to trim Team USA's lead to 11 at 60-49 with 5:53 to play in the third. Kuol has 13 points with three 3-pointers.

4:03 p.m.: Anthony Davis immediately creates a highlight. He deflected an outlet pass, Stephen Curry corralled the loose ball then lobbed it up to Jayson Tatum for an alley-oop.

4:00 p.m.: After leaving the second quarter with an ankle injury, Anthony Davis is back on the floor with the starting lineup to begin the second half.

Halftime: Team USA 55, South Sudan 36

3:43 p.m.: Bam Adebayo is taking over for Team USA. He's up to a team-high 14 points after knocking down two 3-pointers and throwing down an emphatic dunk.

LeBron James joins him in double figures scoring at the half with 10 points. Stephen Curry is still searching for his first field goal, only registering a single point. Nuni Omot has been South Sudan's source of offense with 13 points but none of his teammates have been able to find a rhythm.

South Sudan was scorching from 3-point range in their last meeting with Team USA. It only has five 3s (on 15 attempts) in the first half.

3:36 p.m.: Anthony Davis is headed to the bench after stepping on a South Sudan player and twisting his ankle. It does not appear to be serious. Kevin Durant has taken his place on the floor.

3:33 p.m.: Tyrese Haliburton checked in for his Olympic debut and immediately buried a 3-pointer. Joel Embiid remains on the bench as the only Team USA player who has not played.

3:32 p.m.: Derrick White has given Team USA some extremely valuable minutes, playing high-level defense while adding seven points with two 3-pointers. LeBron James picked up right where he left off, getting to the free throw line and then dishing an assist to Anthony Davis. 

Team USA has a commanding 40-23 lead with 5:38 to play in the half.

3:25 p.m.: Don't let Kevin Durant get going. He knocks down a triple as the United States opens the second quarter with a quick 5-0 run. South Sudan takes a timeout trailing 31-14.

End of first quarter: USA 26, South Sudan 14

3:22 p.m.: The United States ended the quarter with a bang after Anthony Edwards' full-court pressure forced a steal and resulted in an easy two for Bam Adebayo. The second unit continues to bring the energy defensively.

3:16 p.m.: Team USA's second unit is in: Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant and Bam Adebayo. Joel Embiid could be the odd man out with Tyrese Haliburton tonight.

3:13 p.m.: South Sudan answered right back, cutting Team USA's lead to three at 13-10 with three minutes remaining in the quarter. Marial Shayok saw another 3-pointer go through after burying six of them against the United States in the exhibition.

3:05 p.m.: The United States learned its lesson after getting out to a slow start against South Sudan in the exhibition game. Team USA takes a quick 6-0 lead in the first two minutes to force a South Sudan timeout. LeBron James has four points and Jayson Tatum dished a smooth assist to Anthony Davis in his first moments of action this tournament.

Pregame

2:55 p.m.: South Sudan will start Carlik Jones, Nuni Omot, Bul Kuol, Marial Shayok and Wenyen Gabriel.

2:50 p.m.: Head coach Steve Kerr is switching up the starting lineup.

Jayson Tatum — who did not play against Serbia — and Anthony Davis will slot into the starting lineup with Stephen Curry, Devin Booker and LeBron James. Joel Embiid and Jrue Holiday will head to the bench.

2:30 p.m.: Joel Embiid is egging on the crowd at Pierre Mauroy Stadium ahead of Team USA's game against South Sudan. You can read more on why Embiid is constantly being booed at the Olympics here.

How to watch USA vs. South Sudan at 2024 Paris Olympics

  • Date: Wednesday, July 31
  • Time: 3 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: NBC
  • Livestream: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo

Fans can watch Team USA take on South Sudan on NBC on Wednesday, July 31 at 3 p.m. ET. For those streaming the game, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com will broadcast the match. Fubo is also available and has a free trial.

Men's Olympic basketball schedule 2024

Wednesday, July 31

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
Group CPuerto Rico vs. Serbia11:15 a.m.
Group CUnited States vs. South Sudan3 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 2

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
Group BJapan vs. Brazil5 a.m.
Group AAustralia vs. Greece7:30 a.m.
Group ACanada vs. Spain11:15 a.m.
Group BFrance vs. Germany3 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 3

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
Group CPuerto Rico vs. United States11:15 a.m.
Group CSerbia vs. South Sudan3 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 6

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
QuarterfinalTBD vs. TBD5 a.m.
QuarterfinalTBD vs. TBD8:30 a.m.
QuarterfinalTBD vs. TBDNoon
QuarterfinalTBD vs. TBD3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8

RoundMatchupTime (ET)
SemifinalTBD vs. TBD11:30 a.m.
SemifinalTBD vs. TBD3 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.