Each game was reminiscent of the other.

It’s rare for basketball scorecards to reflect eerily similar results across four duels, but such was destiny for the United States.

Landing in Paris as the most venerated Olympic basketball crop, Team USA was six wins shy of a fifth straight gold. And four contests into its golden quest, the Americans seem duly on course.

Billed as “The Avengers,” the Americans – featuring former UCLA men’s basketball guard Jrue Holiday – cruised to an undefeated group phase slate at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With scores routinely hovering around 105-85, the U.S. romped Serbia, South Sudan and Puerto Rico to advance to the knockout stages, where it began with a 122-87 steamroll of Brazil in Tuesday’s quarterfinal.

Boasting NBA MVPs in forward LeBron James, guard Stephen Curry, forward Kevin Durant and center Joel Embiid, the U.S.’ 2024 Olympic lineup is arguably the most star-studded in Paris – and has been likened to the legendary 1992 “Dream Team,” headlined by Michael Jordan.

So to carve a niche may prove a tall order, but Holiday isn’t one to shy into the shadows.

The former first-round pick had the net on speed dial in the U.S.’s first group stage match against Serbia, which boasts two NBA stars of its own in Nikola Jokić and Bogdan Bogdanović. Holiday posted 15 points off 3-for-3 shooting from the field and 3-for-5 from deep, all while grabbing four boards and dishing out three assists.

In a tandem of basketball icons, James and Durant orchestrated the Americans’ 110-84 landslide victory over the Serbs. Durant’s 89% shooting set the scoreboard ablaze, though James’ 21 points and seven rebounds were not to be shrouded.

In his team’s second bout against South Sudan, Holiday sustained an ankle injury that limited his contributions on the court. As a result, he was relegated to the sidelines in Team USA’s third and final group stage match against Puerto Rico.

Prior to exiting the game, however, Holiday slammed the brakes on South Sudan – the team that nearly edged out the U.S. in a 101-100 exhibition match on July 20.

Jrue Holiday has been absolutely suffocating South Sudan’s backcourt pic.twitter.com/uB1hypWVzD

— Antwane Willis Jr.✍️🏾 (@AntwaneWillisJr) July 31, 2024

He made his way to the locker room after 15 minutes on the court, pouching five points and two rebounds on the offensive end.

After a seemingly effortless cruise through the South Sudanese, 103-86, the Americans dismantled the Puerto Ricans on Saturday, coasting to a 104-83 result to top Group C and enter an elimination contest against Brazil.

Holiday needed just one game to recover, and with his return to the fray, the U.S. entered the knockout rounds with a clean bill of health and a prescription of disaster for opponents.

And a 35-point walkover over Brazil was only another declaration of dominance for Team USA.

Starting in the backcourt with basketball’s legendary shooter Stephen Curry, Holiday added nine points, three assists and two blocks. The former Bruin assumed management duties for Team USA during a quieter night for Curry.

In a near succession of remarkable basketball moments, Holiday split the defense to feed James who threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk. James then returned the favor and found a cutting Holiday in the paint, who slammed home a left-handed dunk.

The U.S. will rematch Serbia in the semifinal, with the winner playing the victor of France and Germany’s semifinal in the gold medal match.

Although often celebrated for his two-way prowess, Holiday will always be remembered in Westwood for his defensive tenacity.

And as the saying goes, defense wins championships.

Or in this case, Olympic gold.