What we learned as Steph fights, AD and Ant shine in Team USA’s victory originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Anthony Edwards got things started and Anthony Davis and Devin Booker helped finish the job for Team USA, securing a 98-92 victory in the exhibition game against Australia on Monday in Abu Dhabi.
After a hot start from Edwards, including 11 points in the first quarter, the burning torch was passed and shared with Davis and Booker.
Davis finished with a 17-point double-double and Booker shot 57.1% from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, contributing 16 points off the bench for Team USA – including a couple of free throws. clutch launches the final stretch that helped guarantee the dubbing.
LeBron James and Joel Embiid each contributed 10 points. Boston Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday showed their unselfishness with five and four assists, respectively.
After a standout performance against Team Canada, Steph Curry struggled from beyond the arc in Monday’s win, finishing with just three points on 1-of-6 shooting from distance.
But Edwards’ energy in the first quarter, Davis’ veteran leadership and world-class 3-point shooting helped Team USA pull out the victory in Abu Dhabi.
Here are the takeaways from the victory:
O Anthonys lead the way
Edwards’ confidence has recently raised some controversy in the NBA world.
The Minnesota Timberwolves star went viral after claiming he was the “No. 1 option” despite the list including stars like James and Curry.
But whether or not you agree with Edwards’ self-statement, he certainly looked like the team’s No. 1 option on Monday.
In the span of one minute and 15 seconds in the first quarter, Edwards hit two 3-pointers and grabbed a rebound.
His hot start continued for the rest of the frame, finishing with 11 of the team’s 19 points before being benched near the halfway mark of the quarter.
Edwards cooled off the rest of the game, but finished with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range, while adding four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 27 minutes.
Meanwhile, its namesake, Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis, led Team USA in scoring with 17 points.
It took some time for Davis’ scoring to heat up, but he was on the glass for the entire 18 minutes he was on the floor.
The 6-foot-11 big man shot at an efficient 50 percent clip on Monday while racking up 14 rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks.
3 point party in Abu Dhabi
It was a three-point feast to open the friendly game between the USA and Australia on Monday – and James and Edwards were the hosts.
The two traded shots from beyond the arc in the first quarter, with James opening Team USA’s scoring with a corner 3.
A few seconds later, Edwards took down his own trey.
The baton was passed back to James, who hit another triple on the next possession before Edwards matched his second.
Eventually, James missed his first 3-point attempt of the quarter, but the connection with Edwards didn’t end.
James found Edwards and the 22-year-old drained a flat float.
And Edwards had one more before leaving his 3-point party, knocking down his third in the quarter before being subbed out.
James and Edwards helped move things from downtown for Team USA the rest of the way. Tyrese Haliburton was 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, and Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis each contributed their own trey.
Team USA finished shooting 41.4 percent from deep while holding Australia to just 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) from deep.
Steph’s Shooting Struggles
Even the greatest shooter of all time can lose the game.
That appeared to be the case for Curry on Monday, who finished with just three points on 1-of-6 (16.7%) shooting from 3-point range.
His only bucket came in the second quarter when Tatum drove to the basket and dished it out to Curry, who, despite being confronted by Josh Giddey’s long arms, knocked down the trey.
Curry’s performance on Monday – or lack thereof, especially shouldn’t cause any concern considering he put on a show in Team USA’s opener against Canada last week at T-Mobile Arena.
The 3-point king shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and finished with 15 points in the victory.
And if we’ve learned anything from Curry’s NBA career with the Warriors, the way he responds to an “off night” usually makes for good television.
