USA Basketball vs. Brazil score: Team USA cruises to Paris Olympics semis as every player scores in blowout

The Americans had no trouble with Brazil on Tuesday

The USA men's basketball team had no trouble with Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. The Americans trounced Brazil, 122-87, to advance to the semifinals, where they will face Serbia on Thursday. Every single Team USA player scored in the 35-point win to start the knockout stage, and Devin Booker had a team-high 18 points. 

LeBron James had 12 points and was one assist shy of a triple-double with nine helpers. Eight of those came in the first half, including this out-of-bounds alley-oop to Jayson Tatum.

Joel Embiid hit all three of his 3-point attempts and added 14 points and seven rebounds. The Americans shot 57.7% from the field and hit 15 3-pointers. Brazil got a game-high 30 points from Bruno Caboclo, but saw the Americans go on a 15-0 run ahead of halftime that put the game away.

Kevin Durant, meanwhile, made history. The Suns superstar finished with 11 points, and, with a third-quarter bucket, he passed Lisa Leslie as the highest-scoring player in Team USA basketball history at the Olympics (men's or women's). Leslie previously held the record with 488 points.

Team USA has never lost in the quarterfinal round at the Olympics, and the squad is now two wins away from its fifth consecutive gold medal. Germany and France round out the final four in the men's basketball tournament at the Paris Games.

Here are three takeaways from Team USA's blowout win.

Joel Embiid finally gets going

Embiid and Stephen Curry were the two most disappointing American players during the group stage. Embiid had just four points and looked totally out of sync in the opener against Serbia. He didn't play at all against South Sudan. He did record 15 points on 14 shots in a meaningless game against Puerto Rico, but his showing against Brazil was the first real glimpse at what the Americans hoped he would bring to the team.

Embiid led the U.S. with 14 first-half points to go with seven rebounds, and he looked a bit more spry on some defensive contests. He got himself going early with a pair of 3-pointers (he hit three of them in total). The Americans are not playing much offense through Embiid, as they shouldn't given their emphasis on transition scoring, array of weapons and need to keep half-court flow going, so it's important that he, like Curry, take advantage of the scoring opportunities he does get.

Defense and Efficiency

Every time the Americans have been pushed in this tournament they have answered the bell by clamping down on defense and getting out in transition to extend their leads. They did it again against Brazil, which, for a brief moment, had the deficit down to eight after a 13-2 late-second-quarter run. The U.S. then ended the half with a 15-0 spurt of its own to go into the locker room up 27.

In addition to the defense, the U.S. continues to score with great efficiency, posting 58-48-89 shooting splits in the win over Brazil. They shot 62% including 56% from 3 in the opening group-stage win over Serbia, then followed that up by going 53% from the floor and 43% from 3 against South Sudan -- and that was with Stephen Curry going 1 for 9 while combining with LeBron James to miss nine 3-pointers. Everyone else made pretty much everything.

The Americans shot under 50% against Puerto Rico and 28% from 3. That's the kind of game somebody probably needs from the U.S. to catch the Americans on the right night for an upset. Of course, they still put up 104 points against Puerto Rico, but the opponents from here on out are much better and can definitely put a scare into the U.S. if they have an off night. But if they don't, and they keep defending and shooting with the efficiency they've largely achieved to this point, good luck.

Durant becomes top USA Basketball Olympic scorer

Durant, who is aiming to be the first player in American men's basketball history to win four gold medals, became the all-time leading U.S. scorer, both men's and women's, in Olympic competition, passing Lisa Leslie with a bucket at the 3:06 mark of the third quarter. 

Durant, who came out of the Olympic gate on fire with 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting against Serbia after missing all of the exhibition schedule with a calf injury, finished with 11 points against Brazil and now has 494 career Olympic points heading into the semifinal matchup with Serbia.

[Aug 6, 2024 at 4:51 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

This one's probably a wrap

The fourth quarter will likely be a formality as the Americans are up 23 heading into the final 10 minutes. The U.S. has 94 points through three quarters, a huge number with 10-minute quarters. The Brazilians just don't have the talent to hang in this one. 

[Aug 6, 2024 at 4:36 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Bam starts second half for Embiid

Embiid is having a good game, leading the team with 14 points in the first half, but Kerr goes with Adebayo at the five to start the second half. Kerr has the luxury of experimenting with a 27-point lead. 

[Aug 6, 2024 at 4:21 pm ET · Stephen Pianovich]

Halftime: USA 63, Brazil 36

Team USA finishes the first half on a 15-0 run after Brazil got within striking distance in the second quarter. The Americans are cruising in Paris and are 20 minutes away from a date with Serbia in the semifinals. Joel Embiid has a team-high 14 points. LeBron James has 10 points and eight assists -- including an out-of-bounds alley-oop to Jayson Tatum on the final basket of the first half.

[Aug 6, 2024 at 4:20 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

1H score: USA 63, Brazil 36

• Joel Embiid: 14 points, 7 rebounds
• LeBron James 10 points, 7 assists
• USA: 59/50/100 shooting splits

[Aug 6, 2024 at 4:13 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Americans answer Brazil's run

After Brazil had cut the lead to eight with a 13-2 run, the Americans, as they have done all tournament, put the clamps back down and have pushed the lead back to 27 with a 15-0 run to close the half. Stephen Curry got fouled on a 3 and made all 3 free throws, Joel Embiid hit a trailing 3 (his third of the game) and LeBron James, after whipping his seventh assist of the first half for a Jrue Holiday cutting layup, went went coast to coast for a "get out of my way" layup. 

[Aug 6, 2024 at 4:04 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Brazil cuts lead to single digits

The Americans have stalled out a bit and Brazil has strung a few baskets together for a 13-2 run. But this is what the U.S. has done throughout this tournament. Every time their opponent even gets a hint of momentum, they clamp back down defensively and stretch the lead right back out. We'll see if they can do it again. 

[Aug 6, 2024 at 3:53 pm ET · Stephen Pianovich]

End of 1st quarter: USA 33, Brazil 21

The Americans are well on their well to the semis after a strong opening quarter against Brazil. The Americans shot 61.9% from the floor in the first 10 minutes and eight American players have already scored. Devin Booker leads the way with 9 points and has hit a pair of 3-pointers.

[Aug 6, 2024 at 3:53 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

1Q SCORE: USA 33, Brazil 21

• Devin Booker: 9 points
• Joel Embiid: 8 points
• Stephen Curry: 4 points

[Aug 6, 2024 at 3:49 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Embiid knocks down two early 3s

Joel Embiid has not found much rhythm in this tournament, but the U.S. wants his size in there in certain matchups. He got the start vs. Brazil and rewarded Steve Kerr's decision with a pair of early 3-pointers. That shot is going to be available for him pretty much whenever he wants it, making his pass-shoot decision making paramount to keeping the flow of the half-court offense going.