(AP) — Stephen Curry was quiet offensively in the United States Olympic team’s first two exhibitions before the Paris Games.
He was much more assertive on Wednesday, with less than two weeks left until his official Olympic debut.
Curry scored 24 points, Bam Adebayo added 17 and the United States beat Serbia 105-79 to 3-0 in their five-game exhibition series ahead of the Paris Olympics.
– NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2024
Anthony Davis finished with seven points, six rebounds and six blocks, helping lead a United States defensive effort that Serbia accompanied throughout. Anthony Edwards scored 16 points. LeBron James added 11.
The United States led no less than 31 matches in the last of a pair of warm-up matches in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Americans are now heading to London to play two more preparations before traveling to France. On Saturday they will face South Sudan and on Monday they will face Germany at the O2 Arena in London.
The United States got off to a lopsided start before going on a 16-2 run in the second quarter to take a 56-42 lead and lead 59-45 at halftime.
Nikola Jokic had 16 rebounds and 11 rebounds for Serbia. Aleksa Avramovic added 14 numbers. Serbia were at their best in two days, following a loss to Australia on Tuesday in which they rested captain Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Wednesday’s game is a vital preview for the Serbs and the United States, who will compete in Group C of the Olympic Games. They open their gold hunts against each other on July 28.
finish strong
After nearly squandering a big lead in their narrow win over Australia on Monday, the United States didn’t have as much sadness this time around.
The Americans led by 25 after three quarters and temporarily increased it to 30 in the fourth quarter.
Programming Mix
The United States used its third lineup, consisting of Curry, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and Joel Embiid.
The constants in the three presentations were Curry, James and Embiid.
One of the reasons Embiid is on the list is the American coaching staff’s preference this cycle to counter bigger groups like Serbia, which includes a 7-foot line.
Embiid’s packing isn’t at its peak yet, but he’s active on both ends, placing cutters on the attacking end and being an active deterrent in the defensive back.
Energy exchangers
For the second game in a row, the United States reserves a spark. Edwards, Davis, Tyrese Haliburton, Bam Adebayo and Devin Booker entered the game for the first time with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter and trailed 16-13.
The United States outscored the Serbs 15-12 on the return to tie the score at 28 at the start of the second quarter.
The American reserves scored 28 goals in the first half.
There’s no Durant yet
Kevin Durant played his third straight game for the calf strain he suffered at the start of educational camp.
But point guard Derrick White made his debut after joining the team over the weekend as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement.