Stephen Curry Leads Team USA to Victory
Stephen Curry, driven by the memory of his late assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, lit up the court in Abu Dhabi as the USA Basketball Men’s National Team faced Serbia. The chef was in full cooking mode, leading the top-ranked U.S. team to a commanding 105-79 victory over fourth-ranked Serbia, delighting the sellout crowd of 12,517 with his dazzling performance.
Key Contributions from Team Members
Curry, who scored the first nine points for the U.S. and added another nine in the second quarter, finished the game with 24 points. His effort was a tribute to Milojevic, the Serbian former professional player and assistant coach on Curry’s Golden State Warriors, who passed away earlier this year.
Bam Adebayo contributed significantly with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Anthony Edwards added 16 points and three steals. LeBron James scored 11 points, and Anthony Davis was a defensive force with six blocks, seven points, and six rebounds. Joel Embiid also made his presence felt with eight rebounds.
Defensive Strategy and Depth
“We’re getting better and we’re on a good path,” said U.S. coach Steve Kerr. “I like the way the guys came out and really competed defensively, trying to wear Serbia down with ball pressure and defense.”
The U.S. team showed their depth and versatility, starting Curry, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, James, and Embiid, with a second unit consisting of Tyrese Haliburton, Edwards, Devin Booker, Davis, and Adebayo. Curry, James, and Embiid have started all three exhibition games so far.
Early Game Struggles
Despite the strong performance, the U.S. had an uneven start, with early turnovers converted into seven points by Serbia. The Serbs jumped to a 14-9 lead early on, prompting a Kerr timeout. The U.S. responded with a 12-8 run, tying the game at 28 by the end of the first quarter.
Serbian Standout Performances
Nikola Jokic led Serbia with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Aleksa Avramovic added 14 points. Serbia, coming off an 84-73 loss to Australia, played without Bogdan Bogdanovic due to injury. This matchup served as a preview for the upcoming Paris Olympics, where both teams will compete in Group C, starting their quest for gold against each other on July 28.
Read More:
USA Basketball – Showcase and Olympics Schedule 2024
Team USA Shines in 1st Olympics Exhibition, 86-72 Edging Out Canada
USA Triumphs Over Australia 98-92 in 2nd Pre-Olympic Warm-Up
Dominating the Second Quarter
Curry’s performance in the second quarter, including a four-point play, was crucial in helping the U.S. build a 56-42 lead by halftime. The Americans widened the gap with a 24-13 third-quarter advantage, finishing with an 83-58 cushion.
“Getting our chemistry right leads to good shots,” Curry said. “The Australia game, we gave up some transition plays, some open threes. Both of those teams are good teams. I wouldn’t read too much into that, but it was great for us to control the whole game once we opened it up and not to have any drama down the stretch.”
Bench Players Spark Momentum
For the second straight game, the U.S. reserves provided a spark. Edwards, Davis, Haliburton, Adebayo, and Booker entered the game in the first quarter, trailing 16-13, but helped outscore the Serbians 15-12 to tie the game at 28 entering the second quarter. The American bench players accounted for 28 points in the first half alone.
Durant’s Absence and White’s Debut
Kevin Durant, who missed all three USA Basketball Showcase games with a strained calf, participated in some pregame on-court work but did not play. Injury replacement Derrick White, with just one practice under his belt, made his debut with brief stints in the second and fourth quarters, contributing one point and four rebounds in just over nine minutes of action.
Focus on Defense and Team Identity
Now, with another long flight ahead to London for further tune-ups, the U.S. team is slowly finding its identity. “The whole focus for this team is defense, defense, defense,” Kerr emphasized. “As long as we are putting pressure on the ball and making things difficult for our opponent, it’s going to be a different guy every night. These guys are really talented. It was Steph tonight, next game it will be somebody else. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is winning and our guys know that.”
Looking Ahead to Paris
With their eyes set on the Paris Olympics, Team USA is ready to take on the world, aiming to reclaim their place atop the Olympic podium.
