By Only Players Staff
Updated 8/11/24 2:24am ET
Ultimately, the Americans captured the gold medal for the fifth straight Olympics, cashing all futures tickets in the neighborhood of -500 odds. But given the bumpy rode to Paris, this run was anything but a mere formality.
Team USA barely avoided two improbable losses in exhibition games right before group play. They needed a defensive stop against South Sudan in the final seconds, hanging on 101-100 as a 43.5-point favorite. Two days later, we saw a similar escape as the Americans outlasted Germany down the stretch, 92-88.
The rest of the world has undoubtedly narrowed the gap but the Americans still have the most talented roster and nail-biting finishes are fairly surprising. Team USA finished 6-0 but 2-4 against the spread (ATS). If you had the exhibition near-upsets, they finished 2-6 ATS.
In fact, in the semifinals against Nikola Jokic and Serbia, the United States trailed by as many as 17 points and for 35 of the 40-minute game. Serbia entered the game as a 15.5-point underdog but became an in-game favorite in the second half at one point.
The Americans ultimately rallied behind Steph Curry’s 36 points and LeBron James’ triple-double. James also earned MVP honors. He entered the Olympics as a +350 favorite and those odds steadily decreased, as Team USA racked up wins.
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