Starting 5, July 17: USA-Serbia, Rookie AMA, Summer League continues

Is that Nikola Jokic’s music?! The three-time Kia NBA MVP leads Serbia against Team USA today at 12 ET (FS1).

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THE LINEUP 🏀

What’s inside today’s edition?

USA vs. Serbia: Team USA faces Serbia in a preview of the Olympic Group Phase opener

Teammates To Opponents: G League Ignite teammates met for the first time as pros

Lottery Bigs Clash: Two seven-footers each drafted in the top seven last month squared off

Rookie Photoshoot Day 1: A first look at the 2024 Draft class in their new threads

What To Watch: USAB Showcase, Nike Peach Jam, Summer League, Reddit AMA and more…

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

Tuesday’s scores and what’s ahead today…

USA vs. Serbia (Noon ET, FS1): The third tune-up game for Team USA comes against Nikola Jokic and a Serbian team that the US will open the Olympic Group Phase against in less than two weeks.

Top Two in W Collide: After winning their first matchup last Wednesday, the Liberty extended their lead atop the W standings by staving off the second-place Sun, 82-74, behind Sabrina Ionescu’s game-high 30 points.

Remembering Joe Bryant: The NBA mourns the passing of Joe “Jellybean” Bryant (1954-2024), who played eight seasons with the 76ers, Clippers and Rockets and was a WNBA head coach for the Sparks.

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1. TEAM USA FACES SERBIA IN OLYMPIC PREVIEW

Team USA is back on the court today (12 ET, FS1) for the third of five exhibition games in the lead up to the Paris Olympics.

Today’s opponent – Serbia – will also be Team USA’s first matchup in the Group Phase of the Olympic tournament with both teams in Group C along with South Sudan and Puerto Rico.

• The Americans are coming off a 98-92 win over Australia on Monday that saw the US lead by as many as 24 points before holding off a late comeback attempt by the Aussies. Highlights
• Serbia also faced Australia as part of the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi, falling 84-73 on Tuesday despite a double-double (14 pts, 14 reb, 3 ast) from NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and 6 pts and 8 ast from Hornets guard Vasilije Micic. | Highlights
• The Aussies were led by Patty Mills (28 pts, 5 ast, 4 3s) and got a combined 28 points from Bulls G Josh Giddey (13 pts, 6 reb) and Mavs G Dante Exum (15 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast)

The Americans had Tuesday off in Abu Dhabi, but continued to deliver fun moments.

Next Stop: London for two final exhibition games in the USA Basketball Showcase before the team heads to Paris for the Olympics. Opening Ceremonies are set for Friday, July 26 with Team USA opening the Group Phase on Sunday, July 28.

USA Basketball Showcase in London

• Saturday, July 20: USA vs. South Sudan (3 ET, FOX)
• Monday, July 22: USA vs. Germany (3 ET, FOX)

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2. SUMMER LEAGUE DAY 5: FORMER IGNITE TEAMMATES MEET

Pistons 85, Bulls 77: Former G League Ignite teammates Ron Holland II (17 pts, 9 reb) and Matas Buzelis (18 pts, 4 blk) put on a show as Detroit and Chicago’s respective lottery picks went back-and-forth from the jump.

The Bulls (1-2) led most of the way before the Pistons (2-1) stormed back in the 4th, outscoring Chicago 23-13, to get the win. | Recap | Highlights

• 🗣️ Buzelis On Facing Holland: “It’s cool to battle against him, but we’re not friends right now, we’re just playing. We’ll talk after the game about it.”
• Igniting The Arena: Just two minutes after Holland II took flight for a two-handed poster, Buzelis got UP for this two-handed oop

Pacers 98, Suns 94: Jarace Walker (19 pts, 5 ast) and rookie Johnny Furphy (18 pts, 8 reb, 4 3s) combined for 37 points, and the Pacers (1-2) closed on a 16-8 run to top Quinndary Weatherspoon (17 pts, 2 stl) and the Suns (0-2) for their first Summer League dub. | Recap | Highlights

Nets 92, Knicks 85: Brooklyn’s Jalen Wilson (27 pts, 5 3s) led all scorers and dropped 15 points in the 4th, including a dagger 3 with 23.7 seconds remaining, as the Nets (2-1) rallied from a 21-point, 1st-half deficit to stun Duane Washington Jr. (21 pts) and the Knicks (0-2). | Recap | Highlights

Hornets 80, Nuggets 66: Charlotte’s No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaun (10 pts, 10 reb) recorded a double-double in just 19 minutes, as he and Nick Smith Jr. (21 pts, 6 reb) helped the Hornets (2-0) remain unbeaten with a win over Hunter Tyson (20 pts) and the Nuggets (0-3). | Recap | Highlights

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3. SUMMER LEAGUE DAY 5: LOTTERY BIG MEN MEET IN VEGAS

Blazers 82, Wizards 80: Bryce McGowens followed up his 20-point game against Philly on Monday with 19 points to lead the Blazers (2-1) past the Wizards (1-2) on Tuesday. | Recap | Highlights

• Battle Of Lottery Bigs: No. 7 pick Donovan Clingan (8 pts, 13 reb, 5 blk) outdueled No. 2 pick Alex Sarr (0 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk)
• Draft Connection: No. 14 pick Bub Carrington, who was traded from the Blazers to the Wizards in a deal agreed to on Draft day, led Washington with 20 points

76ers 92, Timberwolves 90: Jared McClain (21 pts) had his best scoring night of Summer League to help the Sixers (2-1) hold off the Wolves (2-1). Jeff Dowtin (17) and Ricky Council IV (13) combined to add 30 for Philly, while Leonard Miller and Daishen Nix each dropped 22 points for Minnesota. Recap | Highlights

Clippers 112, Bucks 97: The hot summer continued for Jordan Miller (23 pts, 9-14 FG) and the Clippers (3-0) as LA defeated Milwaukee (0-3) to remain unbeaten in Vegas. Moussa Diabate (21 pts, 8 reb) and Kobe Brown (18 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) combined to add 39 for LA, while Rayj Dennis hit a half-court heave at the 3rd quarter buzzer. | Recap | Highlights

Spurs 90, Pelicans 85: Riley Minix (16 pts, 4 3s), Donovan Williams (15 pts, including this poster dunk) and Jamaree Bouyea (14 pts, including two clutch buckets in the final minute) helped the Spurs (3-0) stay perfect in Vegas with a five-point win over the Pelicans. NOLA’s Karlo Matkovic led all scorers with 25 points. Recap | Highlights

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4. DAY 1 AT THE ROOKIE PHOTOSHOOT

Get a first look at the 2024 NBA Draft class in their new threads and join our all-access team for Day 1 of the Summer League Rookie Photoshoot in Las Vegas.

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5. WHAT TO WATCH: NIKE PEACH JAM, SUMMER LEAGUE, REDDIT AMA & MORE

The USAB Showcase against Serbia isn’t the only event to watch on Wednesday.

The 2024 Nike Peach Jam — the culmination of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit in Augusta, S.C., featuring some of the top high school prospects in the country — tipped off July 13 and can be streamed today, July 17, through July 21 on the NBA App, NBA.com and NBA YouTube as part of the NBA’s Future Starts Now initiative.

Several NBA stars have showcased their talent at Nike Peach Jam (formerly known as the Peach Basket Classic), which has been a part of the EYBL tour since 2010, with notable alumni including 2023-24 All-Stars Jayson Tatum, Julius Randle and Trae Young.

Meet the next generation of ballers and get caught up on the high school hoops tourney below.

On the professional stage, Caitlin Clark and the Fever face Arike Ogunbowale and the Wings in prime time (7:30 ET, ESPN) and another eight-game Summer League slate in Las Vegas tips off today at 3 ET, when the unbeaten Heat take on the Mavs (ESPN2).

Plus, join your favorite NBA rookies as they answer your questions. Tune in for a live Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) in which the 2024 Draft class answers questions submitted by you, the fans, during the Rookie Photoshoot at 6 ET.

• Rookies include Ron Holland II, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Rob Dillingham, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Matas Buzelis, Jared McCain and more.
• Submit your questions here.