{"id":87827,"date":"2024-07-29T12:17:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T16:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=87827"},"modified":"2024-07-29T12:17:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T16:17:21","slug":"2024-olympics-nba-champion-playing-against-south-sudan-steve-kerr-jayson-tatum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/29\/2024-olympics-nba-champion-playing-against-south-sudan-steve-kerr-jayson-tatum\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Olympics: NBA Champion Playing Against South Sudan"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Sunday’s win, Team USA’s men’s basketball team dominated Serbia by a score of 110-84. Their first official game of the 2024 Olympics<\/a> went nearly as well as Team USA could have hoped for. In his return from injury, Phoenix Suns<\/a> star Kevin Durant<\/a> scored 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting off the bench. Additionally, Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> star LeBron James<\/a> recorded 21 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in the win. Overall, Team USA looked fantastic and ready to earn another gold medal this summer. However, despite the team’s impressive performance, there were a few questionable decisions made. In the game, head coach Steve Kerr<\/a> did not play Indiana Pacers<\/a> guard Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> or Boston Celtics<\/a> forward Jayson Tatum<\/a>. The latter’s absence especially left many in the basketball world confused.<\/p>\n

During the game, there was speculation about Tatum potentially dealing with an injury or sickness. However, after the game, Kerr revealed Tatum was held out strictly for basketball reasons.<\/p>\n

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Kerr admits Tatum was a straight up DNP-CD. \u201cI went with the combinations that made sense. That was for tonight. He handled it well. He\u2019ll make his mark.\u201d #Celtics<\/a> #Paris2024<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) July 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n