Anthony Edwards: South Sudan Showed Team USA It 'Can Be Beat' at 2024 Paris Olympics

The United States basketball men's national team overcame a 16-point deficit and needed a defensive stop with time running out to defeat South Sudan 101-100 in an exhibition matchup in London on Saturday en route to the Summer Olympics.

It was an eye-opening result considering that the Americans began the matchup as a 43.5-point favorite, but it also further proved that the heavy gold medal favorites can be beat, something that Minnesota Timberwolves star and Team USA guard Anthony Edwards admitted.

"The match was super important because we feel like we can't be beaten and they showed us we can be beat," Edwards said, per BBC Sport. "We have to come ready to play."

Team USA was losing 58-42 in the second quarter and was trailing 76-65 in the third quarter before going on an 18-0 run to pull ahead. The Americans appeared ready to earn the win down the stretch up 99-92, but South Sudan went on a late 8-0 tear to take a 100-99 lead.

However, LeBron James then stormed into the paint and made a layup for the 101-100 edge. Team USA then stopped South Sudan on defense to hold on.

"It's basketball. It happens," Golden State Warriors star and Team USA guard Stephen Curry said postgame, per the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds.

"You want to play perfect every game; it doesn't happen. But can you dig deep and do the little things that help you win? Offense can come and go, but defense is the thing that helps you win championships, medals, all that stuff."

This hasn't been the easiest exhibition run for Team USA, which has gone 4-0 but also struggled to put away Australia (98-92) and fell behind to Serbia and Canada early before ultimately excelling to pull away with double-digit wins (105-79 and 86-72, respectively).

So this may be a very tough road for the Americans in search of their fifth straight gold medal. Up next is the last exhibition against Germany on Monday before they begin Group C play on July 28 against Serbia in Paris to kick off the Olympics. South Sudan and Puerto Rico round out the United States' group.