Team USA narrowly clinched a win on Saturday afternoon, edging out South Sudan in an exhibition game.
Although the game’s outcome was insignificant, the fact that the heavy favorites came so close to a defeat raised concerns. However, there was a glimmer of hope as Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid showed signs of improvement.
Embiid had faced a lot of criticism earlier in the summer, but the 30-year-old seems to be turning things around. He posted 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists on 5 of 6 shooting, with an impressive +15 +/-. Despite some lowlights that circulated on social media during the game, Embiid’s performance was a step in the right direction.
In the end, it was LeBron James who secured the win for Team USA, driving and scoring with less than 10 seconds remaining. The final score stood at 101-100. Team USA is now gearing up for a showdown against Germany on July 22 in hopes of a decisive victory.