Stephen Curry acknowledges that adjusting to playing on a USA Olympic team where he isn't expected to lead the offense as he does with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA is a significant challenge. The star point guard managed only three points in 22 minutes during USA's narrow 98-92 victory over Australia in a pre-Olympic warm-up game in Abu Dhabi on Monday, a match where the Americans nearly squandered a 20-point lead in the final 15 minutes. The USA team faced Australia at Etihad Arena as part of the three-match USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi, with Serbia also participating in the final warm-up event before the 2024 Paris Olympics (July 26-August 11). Lakers center Anthony Davis came off the bench to top-score for USA with 17 points and 14 rebounds, closely followed by Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards with 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
"It's an adjustment for everyone, not just me," Curry said, who is set to make his Olympic debut in Paris this summer. "Even our rotation of line-ups is a work in progress as we experiment with different combinations. Playing in short bursts and then sitting out, similar to hockey substitutions, is a new dynamic given the talent on the team." Curry emphasized the importance of being aware of potential scoring opportunities and being prepared for them. Head coach Steve Kerr had previously mentioned his intention to experiment with different starting lineups during these exhibition games, and he did so by replacing Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker with Edwards and Jayson Tatum in the starting five against Australia, while keeping LeBron James, Curry, and Joel Embiid.
Kevin Durant is still recovering from a calf strain and was unavailable, while Davis, Booker, Holiday, Bam Adebayo, and Tyrese Haliburton formed the second unit that alternated with the starters throughout the game. USA held a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter but saw Australia reduce the deficit to just six points with five minutes remaining in the fourth. Back-to-back three-pointers from Indiana Pacers' Haliburton temporarily steadied the USA ship, but Australia's pressure mounted again, threatening to close the gap completely. Australia's Jock Landale, Josh Giddey, and Dyson Daniels all scored in double figures, contributing a combined 51 points.
Kerr viewed Monday's game as a timely warning against complacency and a reminder that the team cannot afford to relax after establishing large leads. He is confident that there is sufficient time for the team, which is arguably the most star-studded and decorated to represent USA since the legendary Dream Team of 1992, to refine their strategies before their Olympic opener against Serbia in Lille on July 28. Kerr also praised Davis, who played an unfamiliar role coming off the bench, describing his performance as "amazing" and highlighting the team's depth as a key strength that needs to be leveraged to maintain pressure on opponents for the entire game, regardless of the lineup combinations.
USA's next match in Abu Dhabi is against Serbia on Wednesday, led by reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Jokic and his Serbian teammates were in attendance and observed the first half of the USA-Australia game. Curry acknowledged Serbia's strength, noting that they are in the same pool in Paris and will need to overcome them when it matters in a few weeks. He emphasized the importance of matching Serbia's physicality and playing true Team USA basketball, also suggesting that scouting footage would be beneficial.
