Trailing by as many as 17 points, the USA men’s basketball team needed a desperate late comeback to overcome Serbia and advance to the gold medal match against France with a 95-91 victory.
Facing a 13-point deficit early in the fourth quarter, the Americans came back to tie the game and then took the lead with a dominant performance in the final period to salvage the victory.
Steph Curry led the way for the United States with 36 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
It was a 19-point night from Joel Embiid and a 16-point effort from LeBron James, who also had eight rebounds and seven assists.
The comeback set the stage for the final basketball fans wanted to see, with the American Dream Team taking on an inspired France on Saturday.
Kevin Durant and LeBron James celebrate a basket in the United States’ victory over Serbia
Steph Curry led the United States with 36 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Supported by an enthusiastic home crowd, France won a thrilling match against Germany 73-69.
Led by Victor Wembanyama, the first pick in the NBA draft, France will hope to end the United States’ dominance in this event.
The United States has won gold in men’s basketball at each of the last four Olympic Games, and at every Games but one since 1992.
However, that streak was under threat for much of Thursday night.
Down by eight points in the fourth quarter, Devin Booker hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to five with just over seven minutes remaining.
Serbia pushed the United States until the end and had a 13-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
The game went back and forth until Embiid was fouled as he scored a basket, converting to make it a four-point game with exactly five minutes remaining.
Embiid would answer the call again, sinking a jump shot to put the game within two points with 4:22 left.
James drove into the lane and tied the game with a stylish layup to complete the comeback with plenty of time to spare.
The game remained close, but a late shot by Kevin Durant and a pair of free throws by Curry sealed the deal.
Nikola Jokic scored 17 points, five rebounds and eleven assists in Serbia’s defeat
It was a 19-point night from Joel Embiid and a 16-point effort from LeBron on Thursday night.
Overall, the United States went from trailing in each of the first three quarters to outscoring Serbia 31-15 in the fourth to claim the victory.
Serbia was led by Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had 20 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Nikola Jokic had 17 points, five rebounds and eleven assists on the night to finish as the second-leading scorer, while Aleksa Avramovic scored 15 points.
The United States will play France in the gold medal match and the Americans are hoping to win their fifth consecutive Olympic title on Saturday.