Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo took a leading role on Wednesday as Team USA defeated South Sudan, 103-86, at the Paris Olympics, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Adebayo led the team with 18 points, including two 3-pointers, and grabbed seven rebounds, shooting 8-of-10 from the field to energize Team USA’s second unit.
Adebayo attributed his performance to providing the necessary energy. “Crashing the glass hard, getting open shots, my teammates just making it easy for me,” he said. “I’m not here to get 20 shots up. But when I’m open, shoot it.” Meanwhile, Heat forward Nikola Jovic kept Serbia’s quarterfinal hopes alive with a 107-66 win over Puerto Rico earlier in the day.
Adebayo continued as a reserve, with Team USA starting Anthony Davis at center instead of Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum instead of Jrue Holiday. The starting lineup also included LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Devin Booker. Adebayo entered the game during the first substitution along with Kevin Durant, taking the center position and anchoring the defense under the watchful eye of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, an assistant to Team USA head coach Steve Kerr.
Adebayo entered with the score tied at 10-10, helping Team USA take a 26-14 lead into the second period, ending the first quarter with a 2-foot jumper. By the time Adebayo first checked out, Team USA led 36-17, with Adebayo 3-for-3 from the field. He returned late in the second period, after Davis left the court, and immediately hit a 3-pointer, extending the lead to 50-31.
During a halftime interview, Team USA assistant coach Tyronn Lue praised Adebayo’s “strong intensity.” “His energy is good for us,” said Lue. Adebayo re-entered early in the third quarter when South Sudan closed the gap from a 55-36 halftime deficit to within 11 points.
Team USA led 73-57 entering the fourth, with Adebayo excelling alongside Durant. An earlier tight exhibition game against South Sudan had Team USA, and Adebayo, determined to make a statement. “We knew they were going to play hard,” said Adebayo, aiming for his second consecutive Olympic gold. “We played them before; they played us tough and we expected that. We feel like we’re everybody’s home run.”
South Sudan also had a Heat connection, with former Heat forward Luol Deng directing the nation’s basketball program. Deng, born in what is now South Sudan, played for the Heat from 2014 to 2016 before joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
Team USA rested Tatum in Sunday’s win over Serbia and sat Embiid this time, allowing Tyrese Haliburton to get his first game action in the second period. Earlier, Jovic, in 18:22 off the bench, helped Serbia even its record at 1-1 with a 41-point victory over Puerto Rico. Jovic scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, with three rebounds and two assists, in his second game back from an ankle sprain suffered in June.
Serbia outscored Puerto Rico by 23 points with Jovic on the court, although a missed layup cost Nikola Jokic a triple-double. Jokic finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. Serbia will conclude pool play against South Sudan on Saturday, with Wednesday’s margin likely securing their quarterfinal berth. Former University of Miami player Davon Reed and former Heat summer league player Gian Clavell played for Puerto Rico, scoring three and six points, respectively.