Thirty-four seconds. This was the total time that Brazil was ahead on the scoreboard against the United States in the quarterfinals of the men’s basketball match in Paris, this Tuesday (6). The absolute favorite, the North American team decided the match before halftime and advanced without difficulty by defeating the Brazilians by 122 to 87. The mission that seemed impossible in theory proved difficult in practice. Brazil says goodbye with one victory in four games, but a campaign that included qualifying for the knockout stage for only the second time in 28 years.
USA 🇺🇸 STROLL INTO THE SEMI-FINALS!#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/8FPvSC1xwp
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 6, 2024
Facing a powerful opponent, with several top-tier stars from the NBA, the strongest professional basketball league in the world, Brazil found itself at a double-digit disadvantage almost the entire time from the middle of the first quarter. In the second quarter, a positive sequence reduced the deficit to eight points, but the Americans put together a 21-2 run to go into the break leading by 27 (63-36).
Brazil managed to balance the game in the third quarter, when they even came out on top (35 to 31 in the partial), but the Americans, quite relaxed and still with a large lead on the scoreboard, finished the match without any major difficulties.
Bruno Caboclo, with 30 points, had the most impressive numbers among all the athletes. The United States, however, rotated the squad a lot. None of the twelve athletes stayed on the court for more than 21 minutes, practically half a game. None of the five starters (LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Joel Embiid) played for more than 17 minutes. Booker, with 18 points, was the Dream Team’s top scorer.
The Brazilian team’s farewell to the Paris Olympic Games was also the farewell of point guard Marcelinho Huertas to the national team jersey. Huertas, 41, recorded nine points and five assists. He participated in three Olympics (London, Rio and Paris).
It was 20 years of the Brazilian National Team! 🇧🇷❤️
One of the greatest geniuses of Brazilian basketball bids farewell to our national team. Thank you, Marcelinho Huertas, for so many memories, incredible assists and leadership on the court. pic.twitter.com/uv1XusOEOc— Basketball Brazil – CBB (@basquetebrasil) August 6, 2024
The United States will now face Serbia, which eliminated Australia, in the semifinals. The two teams have already faced each other in the first round, with the US winning. The scenario will be repeated in the other semifinal. France and Germany, who were in Brazil’s group, will face each other again in the semifinals after beating Canada and Greece, respectively.
Both semifinals will take place next Thursday (8), with the medalists being decided on Saturday (10). The United States is trying to win its fifth consecutive gold medal among men. Yugoslavia, the nation that gave rise to Serbia after its breakup, has a gold medal won in Moscow (1980). France and Germany are looking to climb to the top of the podium for the first time. Germany, by the way, has no Olympic medals in men’s basketball.
