In their first tune-up game before the Paris Olympics, the U.S. men’s basketball team pulled off a commanding victory, beating Canada 86-72 on Wednesday night in Las Vegas.
Former President Obama attended the league’s 50th anniversary celebrations along with many of the NBA’s coaching staff and senior officials from the United States Basketball Association.
Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis led Team USA in scoring, while Stephen Curry, making his Olympic debut, scored 12 points and made 3 of 6 3-pointers.
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Stephen Curry, wearing the number 4 jersey for the USA men’s basketball team, celebrates after a game against Canada at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
“We just want to win a gold medal, whatever it takes,” Curry said in a post-game interview. “We always say it doesn’t matter what the stats are, it doesn’t matter how many minutes we play, as long as everybody on the court does what’s asked of them, to the best of their ability, we’ll be fine.”
It was the first of five exhibition games the U.S. team will play before the Olympics begin on July 26.
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LeBron James, wearing No. 6, is playing defenseman against Canada in the first of five exhibition games leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
The game started slowly for Team USA. After only four days of practicing together prior to the game, they struggled to find their rhythm and fell behind by 10 points early in the first quarter.
The U.S. went on a 14-2 run in the second quarter to lead 41-33 by halftime and held on to the lead for the remainder of the game.
“It was a good first game for us. We got off to a really good start after four days of practice,” head coach Steve Kerr said, via USA Basketball. “We were rusty offensively, we had a lot of turnovers, especially in the first half, but our defensive intensity and our work on rebounding was great, so it was a good first game.”
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Canada’s Andrew Nembard (center) plays defense during an exhibition game against Team USA on July 10, 2024. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Canada was the first non-U.S. Olympic team to feature 10 current NBA players. Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett was Canada’s leading scorer with 12 points, while Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each contributed 10 points.
Wednesday’s game will be the only exhibition game the U.S. team will play domestically. It next plays in Abu Dhabi and then against Australia next week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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