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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The French basketball team announced their arrival in Paris with a rip-roaring 82-73 win over Canada on Tuesday, riding a wave of national pride into the Olympic men’s semifinals while the US turned on the style to stay on track for a fifth straight gold.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US rolled to a 122-87 win over Brazil without ever needing to go all out, but still served up just enough razzle dazzle to keep the capacity crowd buzzing in an effort that was as much about entertainment as sport.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US has assembled perhaps the greatest collection of basketball talent seen on Olympic hardwood since the original 1992 Barcelona Dream Team that featured Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. And nothing that happened in group play in Lille has altered their status as gold medal favourites.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was cruise control for LeBron James and friends as the Americans eased to wins over Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico by an average of 21 points before packing up and moving to Paris for the quarterfinals.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2307983\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2165550717.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic basketball\" width=\"1953\" height=\"1262\" /> <em>Nikola Jokic of Serbia rebounds the ball during the their Olympic quarterfinal against Australia at the Bercy Arena in Paris on 6 August 2024. (Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The routine knockout victory over Brazil sets up an intriguing final-four meeting, and a group-phase rematch with Serbia, who advanced to the semis with an overtime win over Australia.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The contest will also be a rematch of the 2016 Rio Games gold medal final and will feature James, a four-time NBA most valuable player leading the US, against the reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">France will face Germany in Thursday’s other semifinal.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We understand we’re seizing opportunity,” said James. “The only game that’s guaranteed is the next one now.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That’s the only thing we focus on, and focus on Serbia,” he said, adding: “The main goal is, and the only main goal is, for us to win gold. That’s all I care about.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2307980\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2165536283.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic basketball Jokic\" width=\"1799\" height=\"1143\" /> <em>Serbia's Nikola Jokic looks to pass during the quarterfinal against Australia on 6 August 2024. (Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Physical contest</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US and Brazil meeting generated none of the electricity that filled the Bercy Arena hours earlier, when France and Canada engaged in an entertaining up-tempo, physical contest that had the building rocking from tip-off to buzzer.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All last week the arena had been home for the gymnastics competition, but not even Simone Biles was able to thrill the packed house the way Victor Wembanyama and his teammates did.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeding off the energy crackling through a seething Bercy, France gave the home crowd what they came to see, storming to a 19-5 lead in the opening minutes they would never relinquish, each basket triggering a thundering roar that rocked the arena to its foundation.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having repelled a Canadian fightback, the rafters rattled again with 90 seconds left on the clock as the packed arena broke out in a rousing flag-waving rendition of La Marseillaise.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s a great feeling to be able to make sure we play on the last day of the Olympics,” said France guard Evan Fournier. “Make sure we give ourselves a chance to win a medal and hopefully it’s going to be for the right one.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2307963\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/12426635-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>LeBron James of the US makes a crown gesture during their quarterfinal match against Brazil. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2307962\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/12426275-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Lebron\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>LeBron James gestures during the US’ quarterfinal against Brazil. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2307957\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/12417252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2208\" /> <em>James in action against Puerto Rico on 3 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Alex Plavevski)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earlier, Jokic proved again why he may be the best player in the world, leading Serbia to a nail-biting 95-90 overtime win over Australia to reach the last four for the second time in three Games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was an uphill battle from the start for Serbia, who dug themselves out of a 24-point, first-half hole to reach the brink of a regulation victory, only to watch Patty Mill hit a desperation fade-away jumper with 1.4 seconds to play to force the extra session.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With just over a minute to go in overtime and Serbia trailing 90-89, Jokic came to his country’s rescue, scoring two clutch baskets to deliver the dagger and a 93-90 lead.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bogdan Bogdanovic made the final two free throws to seal the victory.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other quarterfinal action, Franz Wagner hit for 18 points as World Cup champions Germany overcame a sleepy start to ease past Greece 76-63. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The French basketball team announced their arrival in Paris with a rip-roaring 82-73 win over Canada on Tuesday, riding a wave of national pride into the Olympic men’s semifinals while the US turned on the style to stay on track for a fifth straight gold.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US rolled to a 122-87 win over Brazil without ever needing to go all out, but still served up just enough razzle dazzle to keep the capacity crowd buzzing in an effort that was as much about entertainment as sport.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US has assembled perhaps the greatest collection of basketball talent seen on Olympic hardwood since the original 1992 Barcelona Dream Team that featured Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. 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(Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The routine knockout victory over Brazil sets up an intriguing final-four meeting, and a group-phase rematch with Serbia, who advanced to the semis with an overtime win over Australia.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The contest will also be a rematch of the 2016 Rio Games gold medal final and will feature James, a four-time NBA most valuable player leading the US, against the reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">France will face Germany in Thursday’s other semifinal.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We understand we’re seizing opportunity,” said James. “The only game that’s guaranteed is the next one now.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“That’s the only thing we focus on, and focus on Serbia,” he said, adding: “The main goal is, and the only main goal is, for us to win gold. 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(Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Physical contest</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US and Brazil meeting generated none of the electricity that filled the Bercy Arena hours earlier, when France and Canada engaged in an entertaining up-tempo, physical contest that had the building rocking from tip-off to buzzer.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All last week the arena had been home for the gymnastics competition, but not even Simone Biles was able to thrill the packed house the way Victor Wembanyama and his teammates did.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeding off the energy crackling through a seething Bercy, France gave the home crowd what they came to see, storming to a 19-5 lead in the opening minutes they would never relinquish, each basket triggering a thundering roar that rocked the arena to its foundation.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having repelled a Canadian fightback, the rafters rattled again with 90 seconds left on the clock as the packed arena broke out in a rousing flag-waving rendition of La Marseillaise.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s a great feeling to be able to make sure we play on the last day of the Olympics,” said France guard Evan Fournier. “Make sure we give ourselves a chance to win a medal and hopefully it’s going to be for the right one.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2307963\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2307963\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/12426635-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>LeBron James of the US makes a crown gesture during their quarterfinal match against Brazil. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2307962\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2307962\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/12426275-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Lebron\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>LeBron James gestures during the US’ quarterfinal against Brazil. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2307957\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2307957\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/12417252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2208\" /> <em>James in action against Puerto Rico on 3 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Alex Plavevski)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earlier, Jokic proved again why he may be the best player in the world, leading Serbia to a nail-biting 95-90 overtime win over Australia to reach the last four for the second time in three Games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was an uphill battle from the start for Serbia, who dug themselves out of a 24-point, first-half hole to reach the brink of a regulation victory, only to watch Patty Mill hit a desperation fade-away jumper with 1.4 seconds to play to force the extra session.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With just over a minute to go in overtime and Serbia trailing 90-89, Jokic came to his country’s rescue, scoring two clutch baskets to deliver the dagger and a 93-90 lead.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bogdan Bogdanovic made the final two free throws to seal the victory.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other quarterfinal action, Franz Wagner hit for 18 points as World Cup champions Germany overcame a sleepy start to ease past Greece 76-63. </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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Nikola Jokic of Serbia rebounds the ball during the their Olympic quarterfinal against Australia at the Bercy Arena in Paris on 6 August 2024. (Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Serbia's Nikola Jokic looks to pass during the quarterfinal against Australia on 6 August 2024. (Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
LeBron James of the US makes a crown gesture during their quarterfinal match against Brazil. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)
LeBron James gestures during the US’ quarterfinal against Brazil. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)
James in action against Puerto Rico on 3 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Alex Plavevski)