There were a record-setting 20,756 attendants at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to see Team USA beat Canada, 86-72, in both team’s first exhibition game before the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Devin Booker continued to earn more ᵴtriƥes for Team USA in front of the crowd’s abundant stars such as former President Barack Obama, former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, former members of Team USA’s men’s and women’s basketball teams for its 50th anniversary celebration.
Booker had an efficient nine points on a 4-of-6 shooting, added two rebounds, and two assists with stellar defense in 20 minutes. The 66.6% on his attempts were the highest on the team, edging Jrue Holiday’s 62.5% (5-of-8).
“Just build chemistry,” Booker said after the game about Team USA. “I think experience is the best teacher so getting out there with each other and figuring out, trying different lineups — just see how things work.”
Lockdown defense 🔒📺: Tune-in on FS1 pic.twitter.com/wNIaJPe4ht
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 11, 2024
Both the American and Canada teams are stockpiled with the most NBA players (12 and 10, respectively) among the 30 participating countries for the Olympics, which starts on July 28.
In Booker’s second stint for Team USA since winning the gold in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he started in place of his injured Phoenix Suns teammate Kevin Durant. Besides Anthony Davis, three of the Americans’ in Wednesday’s starting five are NBA royalty in LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, alongside fellow starter Holiday of the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.
After Canada led USA 21-14 entering the second quarter, Booker’s first two buckets came on two consecutive possessions in transition, a mid-range bankshot and 3 following a chase-down block by James between the sixth and seventh minute left in the half. Booker’s shot capped off a 14-2 run in which USA took its first lead of the game and extended it to 28-23, then the Americans didn’t trail Canada thereafter.
Booker’s final two makes were a jumpshot and tip-in in the third.
It was a balanced attacked in which USA’s highest scorer was Anthony Edwards’ 13.
Devin Booker in Team USA’s first exhibition game:In 20 MIN, 9 PTS on 90.0 TS% with 2 AST and some beautiful defense.The perfect compliment to all the American starpower. pic.twitter.com/UEPYEaNqss
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) July 11, 2024
“Good first game for us,” Team USA coach Steve Kerr said. “We are just starting with four days of practice. You could see the rust on us offensively early. We had a lot of turnovers in the first half, but I loved the defensive intensity and the work on the glass. It was a good first effort on how we want to establish play moving forward.”
