USA Basketball has begun its journey to the Paris Olympics with a recent victory over Canada.
Anthony Davis contributed 13 points while Stephen Curry added 12 as the United States advanced through their pre-Olympic preparations by defeating Canada 86-72 on Wednesday evening.
Jrue Holiday was responsible for 11 of those points, with Anthony Davis also contributing significantly to the U.S.'s efforts. The team will participate in four more exhibitions before arriving in France.
RJ Barrett scored a commendable 12 points on Canada's side, supported by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks, who each had ten points.
The game was attended by several notable figures including the former U.S. president Barack Obama, numerous NBA coaches, and distinguished members of USA Basketball such as Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, among others. The crowd's number reached 20,757, a record for T-Mobile Arena according to USA Basketball.
Despite falling behind early in the game at 11-1 due to missed shots, the U.S. team managed to close the gap and eventually led by an impressive margin of 69-54 going into the final quarter.
The American squad demonstrated ongoing learning as they were a relatively new group. Instances such as misjudged passes resulting in deflections highlighted areas where improvement was needed.
The second unit, featuring Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jayson Tatum, displayed exceptional performance with each member recording a plus-minus of plus-10 or better against Canada's team. This lineup is unique as it comprises All-Star players who are all eligible to represent the U.S. at the Olympics.
It's important to note that key players Kevin Durant and Derrick White were not part of Wednesday's match due to injuries, and Steve Kerr has previously emphasized caution in interpreting lineup selections from initial practices or exhibitions. However, past patterns suggest potential insights into his current strategy as the preparations continue towards the Paris Games.
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