An early double-digit deficit dissipated, morphing into a lead that would not be relinquished as the USA Basketball Men’s National Team defeated Canada 86-72 at the USA Basketball Showcase in T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The USA’s star-studded squad – bound for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – took the floor for the first time competitively, putting on a show for a record-breaking basketball crowd of 20,757.
The festivities marked the first of five exhibitions the Americans will play before the Games begin July 26. Australia, Serbia, South Sudan and Germany each await the United States on July 15, 17, 20 and 22, respectively.
“Good first game for us, really just getting started after four days of practice,” said head coach Steve Kerr. “You could see the rust from the offensive end, a lot of turnovers in that first half especially, but I love the defensive intensity and the work on the glass. So it was a good first effort.”
Canada rolled out to an 11-1 lead in the early stages of the first quarter, with the United States trying to get the 3 going but missing their first four attempts from deep. Stephen Curry ripped the lid off the basket with a 3-pointer.
And as starters eventually gave way to the bench, the offensive tide turned. Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo turned in successful drives to the rim, punctuated by a dunk from Adebayo to cut the Canada lead to 14-10. It evolved into a 14-2 second quarter run, putting the U.S. out in front for good.
The United States entered the locker room with some breathing room, holding its then-largest lead of the game at 41-33. It was a lopsided battle on the boards in the first half – the U.S outrebounded Canada 33 to 17 and shot over 50% from the field.
Enter the Curry show. The four-time NBA champion and first-time Olympian took the contest into his own hands out of the break, sandwiching a layup with a pair of 3s in just over a minute.
This is always a fun format when you get this collection of guys together,” Curry said. “And it’s a test and it’s a challenge to try to figure out the chemistry, the flow and the rhythm, especially on offense.”
Canada, the first ever non-U.S. country to roster 10 active NBA players, submitted a trio of double-digit scorers for the evening in the form of Barrett, Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Barrett delivered a 3-pointer and dunk, respectively, on consecutive offensive possessions to trim the Canada deficit to as low as five in the third quarter. But the Canadians wouldn’t get any closer, as some new guard-old guard synergy from the U.S. quickly reset the tone.
Booker and LeBron James responded to the resurgence by penetrating the paint with ease and re-establishing the lead. And when it came to style points – fitting for a showcase – the NBA’s all-time scoring leader didn’t disappoint.
On a talent-laden roster that’s drawn comparisons to The Dream Team, depth was key for the Americans. They got a pair of double-digit scorers both from their starting five and off the bench, with Curry and Jrue Holiday delivering 12 and 11, while Anthony Davis and Edwards pitched in 10 and 13 apiece in support.
Holiday was a major contributor down the stretch, keeping the offensive tempo high and rattling off nine points in the final frame alone.
“He’s one of the best defenders in the league – not just on-ball, but off-ball, his help, his anticipation,” Kerr said. “I thought that was one of the keys to the game was just the collective ball pressure that our guys had out there, and Jrue obviously leads the way in that regard.”
In addition to a culmination of a five-day stay in Las Vegas – the first four spent in training camp at the Mendenhall Center – Wednesday night was a celebration. Legends of Olympics teams past were honored on court in combination with USA Basketball’s 50th Anniversary, while celebrities lined the courtside seats.
“It was cool to be a fan for a hot second, and looking at all the history of USAB on both the men’s and women’s side – all the people you looked up to growing up in the game,” Curry said. “We’ve had iconic moments, legendary moments, and have shaped what USA Basketball really means and the dominance we’ve had.”
With its only pre-Olympics competition on home soil now complete, USA Basketball is off to Abu Dhabi in preparation for its next showcase against Australia on Monday.
