Olympic Basketball Opens with High-Stakes Matches

The 2024 Paris Olympics basketball events are in full swing with several high-profile matchups and standout performances. Puerto Rico started strong but faced a resilient South Sudan, leading 54-48 at halftime despite an injury to key player Jose Alvarado. Canada and Australia, both featuring NBA stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, are set to clash in a crucial 'Group of Death' game after both teams secured opening victories. The U.S. men's team dominated Serbia 110-84, driven by Kevin Durant and LeBron James, and will next face South Sudan, who celebrated their first Olympic victory. On the women's side, Team USA, led by stars such as A'Ja Wilson and Diana Taurasi, aims for an unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal, starting with a game against Japan.