Team USA Triumphs Over Canada: The U.S. men’s basketball team beat Canada 86–72 in a practice game on Wednesday. It was their first game together as they prepared for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
For the U.S., Anthony Edwards scored 13 points, Steph Curry scored 12, and Anthony Davis scored 10 points, grabbed 11 boards, and blocked 4 shots.
In 19 minutes, he scored 7 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, passed the ball 3 times, and stole 3 balls. Jrue Holiday scored 11 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, passed the ball 4 times, and blocked 2 shots.
For the fifth year in a row, the U.S. is favored to win gold at the Olympics. Meanwhile, Canada’s NBA-heavy team, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murry, and RJ Barrett, is a medal contender looking for its first Olympic podium finish since 1936, when they won silver.
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In Olympic tune-ups, the U.S. faces Australia on July 15 and Serbia on July 17, as well as South Sudan and Germany in London.
With just four practices between the U.S. and Canada, the exhibition schedule was a good start for the Americans.
The U.S. fell behind 11-1 after coach Steve Kerr put James, Curry, Holiday, Devin Booker, and Joel Embiid on the court.
One thing that no other team has going for them, though, is that Kerr’s next five picks were Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Davis, and Tyrese Haliburton. They helped start a 14-3 run that gave the U.S. a 28-23 lead.
Curry’s nine consecutive points, including two 3-pointers, gave the U.S. a 51-37 advantage at halftime. Edwards’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter gave the U.S. a 69-54 lead.
A healthy dose of size and defense was evident as the Americans outrebounded Canada 53-48, blocked nine shots and held them to 33.8% shooting. Despite making just seven 3-pointers, the U.S. shot 50.7% from the field.
Only 10 people from the U.S. were left. Because his leg hurt, Kevin Durant missed the game. In Kawhi Leonard’s place, the U.S. put on Derrick White, who will join the team in Abu Dhabi.
Barrett had the most points for Canada with 12. Dillon Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander each had 10 points.
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