USA Basketball kicked off its journey to the Paris Olympics with a victory as they defeated Canada 86-72 in a tune-up game on Wednesday night. Anthony Davis led the scoring for the U.S. with 13 points, followed by Stephen Curry with 12 points.
The U.S. team showcased a strong performance with Jrue Holiday contributing 11 points and Anthony Davis adding 10 points. On the Canadian side, RJ Barrett scored 12 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks each scored 10 points.
The game drew a star-studded crowd, including former President Barack Obama, NBA coaches, and various USA Basketball dignitaries celebrating the federation's 50th anniversary.
Despite a slow start where the U.S. fell behind 11-1 in the first quarter, they quickly turned things around and dominated the rest of the game. The second unit of Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jayson Tatum played exceptionally well, outscoring Canada by at least 10 points while on the court.
U.S. coach Steve Kerr experimented with different lineups, starting with Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid. The team will face Australia in their next exhibition game in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday.
Despite missing key players like Kevin Durant and Derrick White, the U.S. team displayed depth and talent in their victory over Canada, setting a positive tone for their upcoming Olympic campaign.
For more updates on the Summer Olympics, visit AP Summer Olympics.
