Team USA is going for gold: The four biggest takeaways from the win over Serbia

Kevin Pelton, ESPN Senior WriterAug 8, 2024, 11:36 PM ETClose Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE systemFollow on XAfter cruising through their first four games of the 2024 Olympics, the star-studded USA men's basketball team got a scare from Serbia and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in Thursday's semifinal game, falling behind by as many as 17 points and heading into the final quarter down 13.Serbia led for more than 35 minutes of a 40-minute game, but the U.S. held the advantage when it counted. The final period belonged to Team USA, which outscored Serbia 32-15 to come back and take the lead for good on a Stephen Curry 3-pointer with 2:24 remaining in the 95-91 victory.Curry put together his best performance in a USA jersey, scoring 36 points -- one shy of the American Olympic record for men's basketball held by Carmelo Anthony and the most ever for a U.S. player in a knockout game, per ESPN Sta...