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The NBA world reacts to the US team’s epic comeback in the Olympic semifinal against Serbia: “What a game”

The NBA world reacts to the US team’s epic comeback in the Olympic semifinal against Serbia: “What a game”
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The US national team was the second-best team for much of the first 35 minutes of its semifinal match against Serbia and could not stop the impressive play of the menacing triumvirate of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, Hawks swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic and Euroleague star Aleksa Avramovic.

That wasn’t the whole game, however, and after five blissful minutes – highlighted by airy threes from Stephen Curry, stepback jumpers from the likes of Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant, and timeless play from LeBron James – it was Steve Kerr’s side that punched their ticket to Saturday’s gold medal game against France.

Thursday’s clash was filled with tension as Team USA attempted to defeat Jokic and his Serbian compatriots for the third time this summer. The floor might as well have been a four-sided ring, as these two teams were more prizefighters than anything else, stunning each other with punch after punch under the shimmering lights of Bercy Arena.

MORE: Stephen Curry’s 36-point explosion leads to USA’s miraculous comeback against Serbia

Serbia built up a 17-point lead that looked like a gap, especially with players like Bogdanovic, Ogjnen Dobric and Marko Guduric hitting net with long-range shots.

Curry was ever-present and kept scoring to keep the U.S. within striking distance, scoring 36 points and eight rebounds, the second-highest single-game point total in U.S. basketball history.

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He was far from the only one pulling off magic at the height of the game. Embiid shook off the cobwebs and scored 18 points for an American team that desperately needed them. Not to mention James, who at 39 became the fourth man to record a triple-double during the Olympics.

Fueled by the heroics of former U.S. team MVPs, including Durant, in the closing stages of the game, Kerr’s team found new life. After Curry hit a three-pointer with 2:24 left, the team also took the lead and would not relinquish it despite Serbia’s best efforts.

The basketball world followed the action in the French capital with great interest on Thursday. Here’s a look at the sport’s most compelling reactions to the USA’s 95-91 win over Serbia.

MORE: Full stats, match report from the semi-final USA vs Serbia

The NBA world reacts to the US team’s comeback victory against Serbia

The USA will play against France at 3:30 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. local time) at the Bercy Arena in Paris.

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