Categories: Trending now

USA vs Canada basketball score: Americans win Olympics exhibition

2024-07-11 14:15:03

LAS VEGAS – Playing in their first game together in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. men’s basketball team defeated Canada 86-72 in an exhibition contest Wednesday.

Anthony Edwards had 13 points, Steph Curry delivered 12 and Anthony Davis recorded 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the U.S. LeBron James added seven points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 19 minutes, and Jrue Holiday had 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

The U.S. is favored to win Olympic gold for the fifth consecutive time, and Canada’s NBA-laden roster – featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murry and RJ Barrett – is a medal contender in search of its first Olympic podium finish since capturing silver in 1936.

The U.S. will play Australia (July 15) and Serbia (July 17) in Abu Dhabi, and South Sudan (July 20) and Germany (July 22) in London in Olympic tune-ups. The U.S. opens Olympic play July 28 against Serbia.

It was a good start to the exhibition schedule for the U.S. considering its roster has practiced together just four times and given Canada’s potential to medal.

Meet Team USA: See which athletes made the U.S. Olympic team and where they are from

U.S. coach Steve Kerr started James, Curry, Holiday, Devin Booker and Joel Embiid, and the Americans fell behind 11-1.

But the luxury Kerr has that no other team has is his next five were Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Davis and Tyrese Haliburton. They helped jump-start a 14-3 run for a 28-23 U.S. lead.

The U.S. owned a 41-33 halftime lead and opened a 50-37 advantage on nine consecutive points, including two 3-pointers, by Curry. Edwards’ buzzer-beating 3 at the end of the third quarter put the U.S. ahead 69-54.

The Americans’ much-needed size and defense were on display. They outrebounded Canada 53-48, blocked nine shots and held Canada to 33.8% shooting. The U.S. shot 50.7% from the field despite making just 7-of 23 3-pointers.

“It’s a good first game for us,” Kerr said. “We’re really just getting started – four days of practice. You could see the rust on the offensive end (and) 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, and we needed to set a tone for how we want to play and I think we did that.”

The U.S. was down to 10 players. Kevin Durant missed the game with a sore calf, and the U.S. replaced Kawhi Leonard with Derrick White, who will join the team in Abu Dhabi.

Barrett led Canada with 12 points, and Dillon Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 10 points.

News Today

Recent Posts

Kareena Kapoor’s Next Untitled Film With Meghna Gulzar Gets Prithviraj Sukumaran On Board

Kareena Kapoor is working with Raazi director Meghna Gulzar for her next film. The project,…

17 hours ago

Purdue basketball freshman Daniel Jacobsen injured vs Northern Kentucky

2024-11-09 15:00:03 WEST LAFAYETTE -- Daniel Jacobsen's second game in Purdue basketball's starting lineup lasted…

17 hours ago

Rashida Jones honors dad Quincy Jones with heartfelt tribute: ‘He was love’

2024-11-09 14:50:03 Rashida Jones is remembering her late father, famed music producer Quincy Jones, in…

17 hours ago

Nosferatu Screening at Apollo Theatre Shows Student Interest in Experimental Cinema – The Oberlin Review

2024-11-09 14:40:03 A silent German expressionist film about vampires accompanied by Radiohead’s music — what…

17 hours ago

What Are Adaptogens? Find Out How These 3 Herbs May Help You Tackle Stress Head-On

Let's face it - life can be downright stressful! With everything moving at breakneck speed,…

18 hours ago

The new Mac Mini takes a small step towards upgradeable storage

Apple’s redesigned Mac Mini M4 has ditched the previous M2 machine’s SSD that was soldered…

18 hours ago