Olympics: NBA Stars Rattled Again By Serbia At Rio Games

RIO DE JANEIRO, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Augst,2016) - The vaunted USA basketball squad survived a last-second scare from Serbia on Friday to win 94-91 in a Rio Olympics contest that exposed the potential vulnerability for a second straight game. With a historic upset brewing, Serbia's Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a three-pointer with two seconds left to hand the defending champions a grind-it-out victory and plenty to ponder about the fast-flowing international game. Kyrie Irving's 15 points led six Americans in double figures in a contest that at first looked like a rout thanks to a swarming USA defence. But Serbian big men Nikola Jokic -- the only team member to earn a living in the NBA -- and Miroslav Raduljica brought the underdogs back as the Serbian offence kept finding ways to penetrate.

USA guard Paul George admitted that the high-priced American talent -- who only began playing as a unit a few weeks ago -- were still adjusting to international play. "We relied on natural talent to get us over this one," George said. "That's why these international guys are special in our league.

They really know how to move." The USA has won the last three Olympic gold medals and 14 in total. Now at 4-0 in group play, they were already guaranteed of a spot in the knockout phase starting next week.