Team USA overcame a sloppy start, moved the ball, and imposed their size against Canada.
A couple of days ago, Anthony Edwards told reporters that "he’s still the No. 1 option" in the talent-laiden Team USA squad for Paris 2024.
He might be right after all.
Despite a rocky start, Edwards and the new-look Team USA banked on their imposing size to put away Canada, 86-72, to kick off their pre-Olympics exhibition tour on July 11, Thursday (PH time).
Edwards led the Americans with a team-high 13 points off the bench, including this buzzer-beating triple to end the third for a 69-54 lead.
Curry poured 12 points on 3/7 shooting from deep and three dimes, including this soaring alley-oop connection to his rival-turned-teammate LeBron James to give the Americans a 56-45 lead midway through the third.
The two-time league MVP also heated up in the early going of the second half, igniting a personal 6-0 run for a 50-37 Team USA advantage over Canada.
Team USA, who boasts an intimidating frontcourt of Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid, dominated the boards with a 53-44 advantage. Theyalso played stifling defense all-game long with 10 steals and nine blocks as a team.
With a star-studded team, they managed to move the ball, recording 25 assists on 37 field goals made.
Davis posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, on top of four blocks and two steals, while Embiid had five markers and six boards before fouling out.
Meanwhile, R.J Barrett led the way for Canada with 12 points while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks added 10 markers apiece.
The Canadians started strong and led by double-digits early at 11-1.
Brooks, who has developed a villain role while on Team Canada, was on fire early after this and-one play on Embiid early in the second frame.
But the 2023 FIBA World Cup bronze medalists were overwhelmingly pounded inside, struggling to find their rhythm after a fast start for a lowly 33% shooting overall.
A torrid 7/33 shooting from deep proved costly in their first meeting since the FIBA World Cup in a competitive play. Canada is drawn in Group A with Australia, Greece, and Spain. Meanwhile, USA is in Group C with Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico.
Team USA will fly to Abu Dhabi tomorrow for games against Australia and Serbia next week.
Story Summary:
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Anthony Edwards asserts himself as a key player with a team-high 13 points, leading Team USA to an 86-72 victory over Canada in their Paris 2024 exhibition opener.
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Despite a slow start, Team USA's imposing size and defensive prowess, highlighted by 10 steals and nine blocks, turned the game around.
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Steph Curry and LeBron James contribute significantly, showcasing chemistry and leadership as Team USA looks ahead to upcoming matchups against Australia and Serbia.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]