USA needed their superstars to show out in the second half on an uncomfortable night
USA climbed out of a 16-point hole to beat South Sudan in a warm-up game that threatened to turn into an embarrassment.
The star-studded NBA team was booed by an expectant sell-out crowd during the first half at London’s O2 Arena.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry helped the USA avoid humiliation in London
LeBron James and Stephen Curry helped the USA avoid humiliation in LondonCredit:
LeBron James scored a late game-winner in a 101-100 victory
LeBron James scored a late game-winner in a 101-100 victoryCredit: South Sudan gave the US team an almighty scare in London on Saturday
South Sudan gave the US team an almighty scare in London on SaturdayCredit
They were a massive 43.5-point favorite before the game and a defeat was almost unthinkable.
But USA fell 58-42 behind just before halftime before an almighty second-half fightback spared their blushes.
And even then they needed a late LeBron James bucket to steal a nerve-shredding 101-100 win.
When Joel Embiid turned the ball over midway through the second quarter, boos rang down from the stands.