Stephen Curry shots the lights out wherever and however he wanted.
Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis then took turns harassing three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic all-game long.
If this is a preview of their opening game come Paris 2024, Serbia is in deep trouble.
Curry scored the first nine points of Team USA, and finished with 24 points as Team USA broke the game wide open in the second frame towards a dominating 105-79 rout of Jokic and the Serbians in their pre-Olympic Games exhibition match in Abu Dhabi.
๐๐๐????
โ USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 17, 2024
๐บ๐ธ #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/29m9AQYFNO
After a close game against Australia, the world no. 1 squad responded as Curry set the tone on offense and got a lot more assertive from the opening tip.
24 PTS, 6 3PM... Steph Curry was cooking all game in the #USABMNT Showcase win against Serbia ๐จ?๐ณ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/jCSL83CJSf
โ NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2024
He raced to a fast start after scoring only three points on a 1-6 shooting from deep against the Boomers, and already had 18 markers by halftime with Team USA leading big, 59-45.
4-POINT PLAY ๐ฅ
โ NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2024
Steph Curry (18 PTS) cooking in the 1st half ??
๐บ #USABMNT Showcase vs. Serbia on FS1 pic.twitter.com/hDt5OL0XtD
The Americans outscored the Serbians, 55-30, in the middle quarters after an even opening frame, leading by as many as 31 points to remain 3-0 in their exhibition matches for Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Adebayo chipped in 17 points while Anthony Edwards had 16 points and three steals and LeBron James scored 11 points for the Americans.
Having fun out here!
โ USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 17, 2024
Bam ๐ Ant ๐ฅ
๐บ๐ธ #USABMNT x ๐บ FS1 pic.twitter.com/yciRkoViuf
Anthony Davis had another solid game on both ends with seven markers, six blocks, and six rebounds.
Davis even had an unreal defensive sequence where he came off the bench and blocked Jokic twice, then forced him into a tough shot that led to an Anthony Edwards dunk on the other end.
3 BLOCKS IN UNDER A MINUTE ๐ฒ
โ NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2024
AD is a 1-man block party!
๐บ #USABMNT Showcase vs. Serbia on FS1 pic.twitter.com/VEfVk27WQZ
Adebayo, meanwhile, was knocking down 3-pointers, hitting pull-up jumpers and dishing out assists while also clamping down on defense for a brilliant showing.
Bam bringing the Heat from deep. ๐ฅ
โ USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 17, 2024
๐บ๐ธ #USABMNT x ๐บ FS1 pic.twitter.com/qMR4LjNfeI
Team USA boasts the big men triumvirate of Davis, Adebayo and reigning MVP Joel Embiid and thereโs finally a method to making Jokic feel discomfort, show vulnerability and ultimately fall victim to a greater force.
And itโs a method only the Americans can provide.
Because when you can throw not one, not two, but three superior big man defenders in his face, well, whatโs there for the Joker to do? Other than missing 13 of his 19 shots, that is.
The Denver Nuggets superstar big man paced Serbia with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Aleksa Avramovic added 14 points for the squad, which was coming off an 84-73 loss to fifth-ranked Australia yesterday.
Jokic with the fullcourt outlet pass... Guduric slams it home for Serbia ๐ค#USABMNT Showcase vs. Serbia on FS1 pic.twitter.com/0dxHZlDkQ5
โ NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2024
[ALSO READ: Vintage Patty Mills stars as Australia topples Nikola Jokic, Serbia in pre-Olympics duel]
The 2023 FIBA World silver medalists were even up by six, 34-28 in the second frame before Team USA staged a strong finish by halftime.
Posle prvih 10 minuta igre:
โ Koลกarkaลกki savez SRB (@KSSrbije) July 17, 2024
๐ท๐ธ 28
๐บ๐ฒ 28 pic.twitter.com/9yl9koSyHR
Serbia could not overcome a lowly 40% shooting clip, including a dismal 29% outing from long range, and got outrebounded 38-26.
Bogdan Bogdanovic did not play due to an injury, while Nikola Jovic missed all three of Serbiaโs exhibitions.
Team USA now heads to London to finish up its exhibition schedule against South Sudan and Germany.
