The journey towards the Paris Olympics has officially started for USA Basketball with a victory. Anthony Davis led the team with 13 points, followed by Stephen Curry with 12, as the United States defeated Canada 86-72 in their first tune-up game for the Paris Games. Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis also contributed with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The U.S. has four more exhibition games before heading to France.
Canada’s RJ Barrett scored 12 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks each added 10 points. A notable presence at the game was President Barack Obama, along with various NBA coaches and numerous USA Basketball officials who were in Las Vegas for the organization’s 50th-anniversary celebration.
Despite a slow start that saw the U.S. trailing 11-1 in the first quarter, they recovered and outscored Canada 40-22 for the remainder of the half. The American team, still in the process of gelling as they have only been together for a short period, showcased some miscommunication on the court, resulting in turnovers.
The U.S. second unit, consisting of Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jayson Tatum, had an impressive performance. Each player had a plus-minus rating of plus-10 or better, illustrating their impact on the game.
The absence of Kevin Durant due to a calf strain and Derrick White not being with the team was felt, but the U.S. team managed to secure a solid win. The starting lineup for the U.S., put together by coach Steve Kerr, featured Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid.
The team’s next challenge will be against Australia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday. The exhibition games are crucial for the United States to fine-tune their strategies and chemistry before the highly anticipated Paris Olympics.
