LeBron James layup helps U.S. dodge upset from South Sudan - ESPN

LONDON — There probably will be a movie made about the South Sudan basketball team someday. And the players representing the war-torn young nation added a powerful and dramatic scene Saturday night in a moment the raucous crowd at O2 Arena won't soon forget.

LeBron James made a driving layup with eight seconds left to prevent what would've been an historic upset and Team USA escaped with a 101-100 victory.

Former Charlotte Hornets forward J.T. Thor had made a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining and South Sudan had three attempts in the final seconds but couldn't convert the miracle.

The club is called the Bright Stars — the first team to represent the country in the Olympics when it arrives in Paris next week — and it gave Team USA a thrilling and serious test.

«I did not do a great job preparing our team, I think we did not focus enough on what they're capable of and that's on me,» Team USA coach Steve Kerr said.

«They played a wonderful game and the ending was good for us just to feel that. To feel what it's going to be like in Paris and Lille.… A good reminder that when we play against teams, it's the biggest game of their lives and we have to expect everyone to play like that.»

South Sudan got up by as many as 16 points and threatened to pull off one of the biggest upsets ever seen in international basketball before Team USA pulled it out.

James might be interested in buying the movie rights to the South Sudan story, but he was determined not be portrayed on the losing team. James was vicious in denying the upset attempt, aggressively taking over the game when the U.S. was in serious trouble.

He scored 25 points and made a string of tremendous plays in a 23-5 run from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth.