Team USA launched its Paris Games campaign on Sunday with an emphatic 110-84 victory over Serbia, led by LeBron James and supported by a standout performance from Kevin Durant, who scored a game-high 23 points despite having missed the warmup games due to a calf injury.
However, one unexpected twist came from Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, who did not play a single minute despite being dressed for the game. Speculation arose during the match that Tatum might be dealing with an illness, although he refuted these rumors when questioned by The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, asserting, “No, I’m good.”
Similarly, Tyrese Haliburton from the Indiana Pacers also remained on the sidelines throughout the game, suggesting that their absence may have been due to strategic decisions regarding the rotation against Serbia. Nevertheless, their absence stood out as Team USA asserted dominance, particularly in the second half of the game.
