Team USA Opens Pre-Olympic Tour with a Win Against Canada

Team USA kicked off its pre-Olympic tour Thursday night in Las Vegas with a comfortable 86–72 victory over Canada in the USA basketball showcase opener.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards led the way for the veteran-heavy group, pouring in 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting to pioneer a balanced team effort. Stephen Curry added 12 points, and LeBron James filled up the stat sheet with seven points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the win.

Although the final score may have indicated a rather uneventful win for the American side, the start of the game was quite the opposite. Canada raced out to an 11–1 lead in the opening four minutes of the first quarter as Team USA, which had just begun practice a few days ago, appeared disjointed. By the end of the first quarter, the U.S. still trailed 21–14.

However, the second unit—led by Edwards and Jayson Tatum—quickly got the Americans back on track. Team USA opened the second quarter on a 14–2 run and never relinquished the lead again, relying on a stifling defense that forced 11 steals and held Canada to a meager 33.8% shooting night.

As is natural when featuring a game so rich with talent, the highlights kept on coming. Midway through the third quarter, with the U.S. firmly in control and looking to go up double digits, Curry and James burst free on a fast break. The pair traded passes back-and-forth until Curry eventually lobbed the ball up top for a patented James slam.

The U.S. managed to get the job done with relative ease on Thursday even without the presence of two key members of the original 12-man roster. Kawhi Leonard withdrew from the team earlier in the day, opting to instead maintain his health throughout the summer and prepare for another season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant was also unavailable to play due to a right calf strain.

Playing in its first game together in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. men’s basketball team showed promise despite their short practice time. Anthony Edwards had 13 points, Steph Curry delivered 12, and Anthony Davis recorded a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks. Jrue Holiday added 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, showcasing the depth and versatility of the team.

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 Murray, and RJ Barrett—is a strong contender in search of its first Olympic podium finish since capturing silver in 1936.

Postgame, LeBron was asked what his message was for the guys. He responded, “We know we are a lot better, but we have only been together for four days. All the miscues with the turnovers offensively will get better, but it’s also on the defensive end. As long as we defend, we will give ourselves a good chance to win.”

Team USA will return to action Monday against Australia when the showcase continues in Abu Dhabi on Aug. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. They will also face Serbia (July 17) in Abu Dhabi, and South Sudan (July 20) and Germany (July 22) in London in further Olympic tune-ups. The U.S. opens Olympic play on July 28 against Serbia.

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