Stephen Curry was somewhat subdued on the offensive end during the U.S. men’s basketball team’s initial two exhibition games ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, he became much more aggressive on Wednesday, just under two weeks before his official Olympic debut.
Curry scored 24 points, while Bam Adebayo contributed 17, leading the U.S. to a 105-79 victory over Nikola Jokic’s Serbia, marking their third win in a five-game exhibition series ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Anthony Davis recorded seven points, six rebounds, and six blocks, playing a key role in the U.S. defense that restricted Serbia’s scoring. Anthony Edwards added 16 points, and LeBron James chipped in with 11.
The U.S. built a lead as large as 31 points during their final warm-up game in Abu Dhabi, UAE. They are set to travel to London for two additional exhibition games before heading to France, with their first match on Saturday against South Sudan, followed by a game against Germany on Monday at London’s O2 Arena.
After a shaky start, the U.S. went on a 16-2 run in the second quarter, establishing a 56-42 lead and went into halftime ahead 59-45.
Jokic recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds for Serbia, while Aleksa Avramovic contributed 14 points. This was Serbia’s second game in two days, following a loss to Australia on Tuesday, during which they rested captain Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Wednesday’s game served as a crucial preview for both Serbia and the U.S., as they will compete in Group C at the Olympics, opening their pursuit of gold against each other on July 28.
**CLOSING OUT STRONG**
After nearly losing a significant lead in their close win over Australia on Monday, the U.S. ensured there was no repeat performance this time. They held a 25-point lead after three quarters and quickly extended it to 30 in the final period.
### LINEUP ADJUSTMENTS
The U.S. rolled out its third distinct starting lineup, consisting of Curry, James, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, and Joel Embiid. Curry, James, and Embiid have been the only players consistent across the three exhibition games.
The coaching staff included Embiid on the roster to help counteract larger teams like Serbia, which has three players over 7 feet tall. Although Embiid’s conditioning isn’t yet optimal, he was active on both ends, facilitating plays for his teammates and effectively defending the lane.
### BENCH IMPACT
For the second game in a row, the U.S. bench made a notable difference. Edwards, Davis, Adebayo, Tyrese Haliburton, and Devin Booker entered the game with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter, trailing 16-13. They managed to outscore Serbia 15-12 for the rest of the period, tying the game at 28 by the end of the quarter. The bench players contributed a total of 28 points in the first half.
### DURANT STILL OUT
Kevin Durant missed his third consecutive game as he continues to recover from a calf strain he suffered early in training camp. In his absence, guard Derrick White made his debut after joining the team over the weekend as a substitute for Kawhi Leonard.