Las Vegas, July 11, 2024 – The highly anticipated pre-Olympic exhibition game between the USA and Canada basketball teams took place on Wednesday, with the American squad emerging victorious by a score of 86-72.
All eyes were on the star-studded USA roster, which boasted the formidable duo of LeBron James and Steph Curry, who were playing together for the first time as international teammates. The two NBA legends showcased their chemistry on the court, with James contributing 7 points and Curry scoring 12 points for the winning side.
Despite an early 11-1 deficit, the US team quickly regained their composure and cruised to a comfortable victory, suggesting they will be the heavy favorites to clinch their fifth consecutive gold medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
“We know we can be a lot better, but we’ve only been together four days,” said James after the game. “As long as we defend, we’ll give ourselves a good chance to win every night.”
Curry echoed his teammate’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of a strong defensive effort. “We can work out the kinks and the timing on offense, but if we compete like that and commit to playing defense, we’ll be fine against anybody,” Curry said.
The American squad will now head to the United Arab Emirates for a pair of exhibition matches against Australia and Serbia next week, as they continue their preparations for the Olympic tournament in Paris.
With their star-studded lineup and impressive display against Canada, the USA basketball team is poised to be the team to beat in France this summer.
