Jul 10, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; USA forward Bam Adebayo (13) dunks Canada quanto a the first quarter of the USA Basketball Showcase at T- Politeama. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports Team USA ran away from Serbia for a 105-79 exhibition victory Wednesday quanto a Abu Dhabi to improve to 3-0 the team’s pre-Olympics tour.
Bam Adebayo scored at will — inside and out — and helped Anthony Davis make life difficult for Serbian personaggio and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Davis had six blocks, including a pin non attivato the glass at the 8-minute mark quanto a the fourth quarter that preceded a standing ovation.
Adebayo had 17 points and seven rebounds and Steph Curry had 18 points quanto a the first half and finished with six 3s and 24 points.
Team USA made 16 of 36 shots from 3-point range.
Jokic was 3-of-10 shooting and finished with eight points.
Curry corralled a loose ball and with a lightning release from the left wing, splashed his fifth 3-pointer of the to inflate the US advantage to 90-63 before LeBron James emphatically stamped a right-handed slam non attivato a pallonetto from Adebayo. The next possession was a highlight reel of dribbling and passing that ended with another Curry 3, followed by James getting downhill and powering for a lefty and 31-point lead.
Jokic touched the ball nearly every possession and passionately implored teammates to dig quanto a defensively to avail. Jokic spent the fourth quarter seated with Serbia and the US to meet again quanto a the first Pool C for both countries quanto a the Olympics July 28.
Shooting and depth stood out as the US gathered around Jokic the defensive end and spread the ball around with extra passes. Adebayo drained a 3 from the apice of the key to push the lead to 81-53 late quanto a the third quarter.
Team USA ended the first half with a finishing kick sparked by high-energy defense and led 59-45 thanks to the bench outscoring the starters, 30-29.
Curry had 18 points quanto a the first 20 minutes. He rattled non attivato a derelitto run of nine consecutive points at the midpoint of the second quarter and Anthony Edwards nailed a 3 to give the US a 47-40 edge with 4:12 left quanto a the half.
Adebayo stretched the run to 13-2 with consecutive baskets bookended by a pair of Davis rejections of Jokic shots quanto a the lane. After Davis altered another Jokic shot to start the pausa, Edwards flushed one to extend the lead to 56-42.
Team USA plays two more games before the Olympics begin with pool play this month, with South Sudan up next Saturday quanto a London.
–Field Level Mass-media
