USA tops Canada in exhibition opener on road to Paris Olympics

For USA Basketball, the journey to the Paris Olympics has begun with a win.

Anthony Davis scored 13 points, Stephen Curry added 12, and the United States kicked off its preparation for the Paris Games by defeating Canada 86-72 on Wednesday night.

Jrue Holiday scored 11 points, and Davis finished with 10 for the U.S., which has four more exhibition games before heading to France.

RJ Barrett led Canada with 12 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks each contributed 10.

The game drew notable attendees, including President Barack Obama, numerous NBA coaches, and many USA Basketball dignitaries in town for the federation’s 50th anniversary celebration. Among them were Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Teresa Edwards, Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen, and more.

The total attendance was 20,757, a record for any game at T-Mobile Arena, according to USA Basketball.

Cold Start

The U.S. struggled early, trailing 11-1 midway through the first quarter after missing its first six shots. However, the rest of the half saw a turnaround with the U.S. outscoring Canada 40-22 and shooting 64.3% (18 for 28). They led 41-33 at halftime and extended the lead to 69-54 by the end of the third quarter.

While the Americans, who have been together for less than a week, are still finding their rhythm, there were several instances where miscommunications led to errant passes.

Second Unit

The U.S. second unit, consisting of Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jayson Tatum, was particularly impressive. Each of these players had a plus-minus of plus-10 or better, indicating the U.S. outscored Canada significantly when they were on the floor.

This depth is a hallmark of the American team, which can field a “bench” of All-Stars. This group boasts 21 combined All-Star selections, two NBA champions (Davis and Tatum), and two perennial All-Defense players (Davis and Adebayo). It’s an exceptional second unit by any standard.

Notably, the U.S. was without Kevin Durant (calf strain) and Derrick White (not yet with the team) on Wednesday.

Starting Lineup

U.S. coach Steve Kerr’s initial starting lineup featured Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid. While this lineup may change, it offers insight into Kerr’s current thinking.

Last year, the starters in the first exhibition game before the World Cup went on to start in the tournament opener, suggesting this lineup could see significant playing time.

Next Up

The U.S. will face Australia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday.