WATCH: Stephen Curry pulls Team USA out of a 17-point deficit to overcome Serbia in Paris Olympics 2024

On Thursday night in Paris, Team USA was saved by Stephen Curry. The top player for the Golden State Warriors helped the United States overcome a significant 17-point deficit to defeat Serbia and Nikola Jokić 95-91 in their semifinal encounter in France. The Americans were formally sent back to the final game after that, and this Saturday they will try to earn a fifth straight gold medal. 

Stephen Curry scored 36 points in the victory, including nine three-pointers, the most any player has made in a single game in the Olympics. On Thursday, Curry also went off virtually immediately. He scored 14 of the United States' first 15 points and set his career high not nearly halfway through the first quarter. He had 17 points at the end of the first session, while the rest of Team USA combined for a 1-of-8 shooting performance in the first 10 minutes.

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This was one of the best Olympic performances of all time pic.twitter.com/dBrB2xNlHq

— ³⁰chef curry (@shotbysteph30) August 9, 2024

Serbia also made the most of that pause. They shut down every American surge to maintain their double-digit lead, which they had at halftime (11 points) and long into the fourth. Joel Embiid, at last, gave Team USA the boost they required. Before LeBron James' drive to eventually tie the game was set up by a blocked shot, he embarked on a short 7-0 run of his own.

Stephen Curry helped USA to take lead

The United States soon led by seven points, their biggest lead of the game at the moment, as Curry made a tremendous 3-pointer, his ninth of the game. LeBron James and Curry then each scored a layup to seal the four-point victory. 

In addition to Curry's 36 points, Embiid ended with 19 points and four rebounds on 8 of 11 shots from the field. James finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists to record a triple-double. For Team USA, they were the only three players to score in double digits.