Team USA grind out win over South Sudan in Olympics warm-up

Anthony Davis, James' teammate from the Los Angeles Lakers, contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers added 14 points and seven boards.

Despite trailing 58-44 at halftime, the USA managed to outscore South Sudan 37-18 in the third quarter, taking an 81-76 lead into the final quarter.

Marial Shayok and Carlik Jones were the standout performers for South Sudan, with Shayok scoring 24 points and Jones recording a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals. Jones missed a crucial shot in the dying seconds of the game, allowing Team USA to secure the win.

James expressed his preference for close games over blowouts, highlighting the importance of being tested in preparation for the Olympics.

JT Thor, who competed for the Charlotte Hornets in the previous season, tallied 14 points, while Wenyen Gabriel of the Memphis Grizzlies contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists for South Sudan.

Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the US. Edwards shot 4-for-11 from the field, while Curry made 3 of 10 attempts.

Despite being favored by 43.5 points, the Americans faced a tough challenge from South Sudan.

"I failed to adequately prepare our team," remarked Team USA coach Steve Kerr. "We underestimated their capabilities, and that's on me.

"I believe this allowed South Sudan to build confidence early on... They were exceptional. They played a fantastic game, and the outcome was beneficial for us, giving us a taste of what to expect in Paris and Lille."

Team USA is scheduled to play against Germany on Monday in London for their final exhibition match before the Paris Olympics. Their first group stage game will be against Serbia in Lille, France, on July 28th.

The rematch between Team USA and South Sudan in group play is set for July 31st.