US forward LeBron James (6) collides with Canadian guard Jamal Murray (4) and forward Dillion Brooks (24) during the first quarter of the USA Basketball Showcase at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on July 10, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Candace Ward – USA TODAY Sports Anthony Edwards scored 13 points, Stephen Curry had 12 points and Anthony Davis recorded a double-double to lead Team USA to an 86-72 victory over Canada in an exhibition men's basketball game in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Jrue Holiday had 11 points, Bam Adebayo had seven rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton had six assists for the U.S., which improved to 35-3 in pre-Olympic exhibition games.
The size advantage has helped the U.S. team pull away from its neighbors to the north and its rivals.
Wednesday marked the first time the two nations met since Canada beat the United States 127-118 in overtime in the bronze medal game at the FIBA World Cup in Manila, Philippines.
Davis had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four of Team USA's nine blocks, as the team held Canada to 33.8 percent shooting and 50.7 percent from the field.
Canada had RJ Barrett (12 points), Dillon Brooks (10) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10) in double figures.
Both teams struggled with early inconsistencies, but it took the U.S. team longer to shake off the rust in their first pre-Paris tune-up. The Americans trailed 11-1 midway through the first quarter and didn't make their first field goal until Curry's 3-pointer at the 5:25 mark, ending a streak of seven straight missed attempts by the U.S. to start the game.
“We've only had a few days of practice,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said in a post-game interview with FS1, “so we've got to get stronger. … We can get there, but it's just going to take time.”
The U.S. overcame 11 first-half turnovers to shoot 52.9 percent and grab plus-17 rebounds to take a 41-33 lead at halftime.
Edwards and Jayson Tatum tied Brooks with eight points each by halftime, and Davis grabbed seven rebounds.
Kevin Durant, the U.S. Olympic team's all-time leading scorer, missed the game because of a sore calf. The U.S. national team opted to send Kawhi Leonard home from training camp after he was hit with a knee injury while preparing for the NBA season. His replacement, Derrick White, has yet to join the team.
The U.S. team has four exhibition matches remaining before its Olympic opener against Serbia in Lille, France, on July 28. The U.S. team is scheduled to play Australia on Monday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
–Field Level Media
