Starting 5, July 18: Team USA rolls, Clark sets record, ‘Dunk of the summer’ in Vegas
Against a Serbia team many expect to be a medal contender, Team USA flexed its muscle in Wednesday’s win.
THE LINEUP
What’s inside today’s edition?
USA Tops Serbia: Curry and AD helped Team USA improve to 3-0 in the lead-up to Paris
USA’s Win In GIFs: Check out all the best from a Team USA win stacked with highlights
‘Dunk Of The Summer:’ Alondes Williams’ tomahawk jam helped the Heat remain unbeaten
Summer League Roundup: Bronny James and the Lakers got their first win of the summer
Photos & Answers: The rookies not only had a photoshoot, they answered your questions
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Wednesday’s scores and what’s ahead today…
Caitlin Clark Makes WNBA History: The rookie phenom broke the WNBA single-game assist record as she dished 19 dimes to go with 24 points in Indiana’s loss to Dallas on Wednesday.
NBA 2K25 Summer League continues with seven games on Thursday as teams look to secure a spot in this weekend’s playoff
The NBA family mourns the passing of Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams. Commissioner Adam Silver’s statement
1. CURRY’S OFFENSE, DAVIS’ DEFENSE LEAD USA PAST SERBIA
Midway through the 2nd quarter, Team USA and Serbia were tied at 40-40 with neither team having led by more than five points.
Then it happened. Team USA went on a game-changing 16-2 run to break the game open. Leading by 14 at the half, the Americans extended the lead in the 3rd quarter, offering a glimpse of the heights this team can reach when clicking on all cylinders.
The 3rd quarter ended with Team USA up by 25. Playing with some breathing room, the Americans gave the fans in Abu Dhabi some spectacular highlights (see Section 2 ⬇️) before the final buzzer sounded on a 105-79 win. Recap | Stats | Highlights
- The US and Serbia will meet again on July 28 in the Olympic Group Phase opener for both teams
Curry Breaks Out: Steph Curry needed less than a minute to score more points against Serbia (4 pts in 39 seconds) than he did against Australia (3 pts in 21 minutes) on Monday.
- Through the first two games of the Showcase, he had averaged 7.5 ppg on 38.5% shooting.
- Wednesday was a different story as Steph scored 24 points on 61.5% shooting with six 3s, including a 4-point play that gave him 18 points and put the US up for good midway through the 2nd quarter
AD’s One-Man Block Party: Wednesday’s game featured six blocked shots combined from both teams – with all six coming from Team USA’s Anthony Davis, bringing his total to 12 blocks in 53 minutes of play through the first three games of the Showcase.
- Team Defense: In addition to Davis playing goalkeeper, the Americans had eight steals for the game, scoring 23 points on 12 Serbia turnovers
No Letting Up: After watching their 24-point lead dwindle down to six against Australia, Team USA kept its foot on the gas in the 2nd half. The teams were tied at 28 at the end of the 1st quarter, but the US won each of the final three: +14 in the 2nd, +11 in the 3rd and +1 in the 4th.
White Debuts, Still No KD: After missing the Australia game due to his late arrival in replacement of Kawhi Leonard, Derrick White debuted on Wednesday with one point, four rebounds and an assist in nine minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant remains sidelined with a calf strain.
What’s Next? Team USA travels to London for its final two exhibition games – Saturday vs. South Sudan and Monday vs. Germany before heading to Paris to begin its quest for a fifth straight gold.
2. USA vs. SERBIA HIGHLIGHTS IN GIFs
The Stars & Stripes didn’t just earn a complete team win on Wednesday – they put on a show.
From the opening tip to the final buzzer, see some of the best highlights from Team USA’s Showcase win against Serbia.
Ant’s step-back triple got the party started in the 1st quarter.
The King marched his way to the rim for a tough and-1 minutes later.
Steph’s tiebreaking four-point play in the 2nd quarter sparked a 16-2 run.
The second of AD’s three blocks in under a minute before the half.
Ant Man and Team USA took off in the 3rd quarter.
The block party continued for AD in the 4th.
LeBron soared in for an oop from Bam to punctuate the win.
3. ‘DUNK OF THE SUMMER’ HELPS MIAMI STAY UNBEATEN
Heat 92, Mavericks 79: “The dunk of the summer!” Alondes Williams (9 pts, 5 ast) threw down a monster tomahawk jam, rookie Kel’el Ware had a game-high 24 points and 10 boards and the Heat (3-0) pulled away from A.J. Lawson (22 pts) and the Mavs (0-3) to remain unbeaten. | Recap | Dunk In Super Slo-Mo
Knicks 106, Kings 105: In a final minute that saw four lead changes, Keon Ellis (29 pts, 6 ast) hit a 3 with 6.7 seconds left to put the Kings (1-2) up two, but Knicks rookie Tyler Kolek (21 pts, 8 ast) responded with a go-ahead and-1 with 2.4 ticks left, as NY (1-2) pulled out a thriller. | Recap
Jazz 86, Raptors 76: Utah’s Taylor Hendricks (23 pts, 9 reb) made his first nine shots while rookies Kyle Filipowski (20 pts, 7 reb, 3 stl) and Cody Williams (15 pts) combined for 35 points to lead the Jazz (2-1) past Javon Freeman-Liberty (24 pts, 7-14 FG) and the Raptors (2-1). | Recap
Grizzlies 104, Magic 98: In a battle of unbeatens, GG Jackson II (27 pts, 13 reb) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (25 pts, 9 ast) shined, and the Grizzlies never trailed to improve to 3-0 with a win over Jett Howard (21 pts, 3 ast), Tristan Da Silva (17 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) and the Magic (2-1). | Recap
Celtics 89, Hornets 84: Eight Celtics scored 8+ points, led by Anton Watson and Jahmi’us Ramsey, who notched 15 apiece and helped spark a 17-7 run in the final 3:33 to rally Boston (2-1) past Zavier Simpson (19 pts, 6 ast) and the Hornets (2-1). | Recap
4. ROUNDUP: LAKERS GET FIRST WIN OF SUMMER
Lakers 87, Hawks 86: The Lakers (1-2) got their first win of the summer behind Colin Castleton (17 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast), Blake Hinson (14 pts, 4 3s) and Bronny James (12 pts, 5-11 FG).
Rob Baker II and Jarkel Joiner each scored 17 to lead the Hawks (0-3), who were without top pick Zaccharie Risacher. | Recap
- James Family Affair: LeBron James and his sons, Bronny & Bryce, were in action on the same day and the NBA App captured it all.
- LeBron had 11 for Team USA against Serbia; Bronny had his best game of the summer for the Lakers, and Bryce showed out at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam
Suns 100, Thunder 99: David Roddy (21 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) led all scorers and finished this baseline poster in the 4th quarter before knocking down three FTs with 0.3 seconds left to secure a Suns (1-2) victory over Buddy Boeheim (20 pts, 6 3s, 6 reb, 4 ast) and OKC (0-3). | Recap
Warriors 96, Cavaliers 85: Daeqwon Plowden (16 pts, 7 reb, 4 3s, 1 rim-rattling slam) led eight Warriors with 9+ points as Golden State improved to 3-0 in Vegas. Craig Porter Jr. (14 pts, 4 stl), Emoni Bates (13 pts, 3 3s) and Hunter Cattoor (12 pts, 4 3s) led the Cavs, who fell to 1-2. | Recap
- Five Unbeaten Teams Left: The Warriors, Heat, Grizzlies, Clippers and Spurs sit atop of the standings at 3-0 after Wednesday
5. ROOKIE PHOTOSHOOT DAY 2 + BEST OF LIVE AMA
Zach Edey
Day 2 of the Rookie Photoshoot in Las Vegas came with a twist, as players partook in a live Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), in which they answered questions written by you, the fans.
Along with an all-access look at Wednesday’s shoot – and the final frames – enjoy a few of the most intriguing AMA answers below, from Dan Hurley’s coaching style to Jared McCain’s vision board.
Carlton “Bub” Carrington, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr
Besides playing basketball, what are some of your favorite hobbies?
️ Carrington: “Build legos, and trampoline parks.”
What advice have you received from veteran players/coaches that has stuck with you throughout the years?
️ Sarr: “Enjoy the moment and don’t take anything for granted. Work hard day by day.”
AJ Johnson, Jared McCain, Matas Buzelis
Matas, what were the first thoughts through your mind when you found out you were getting drafted to your hometown team?
️ Buzelis: “First thoughts were how insane it is. Very low chance of that happening. And how blessed I am honestly.”
Jared, have you already created your vision board for the NBA and your career?
️ McCain: “I haven’t created it yet. Waiting to get my place in Philly first, and see where my brain goes for all the goals.”
Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr.
What motivates you to compete?
️ Shannon Jr.: “I’m not considered the best so that motivates me to get on that level. I love winning. Whatever I can do to win is what I’m going to do.”
Who’s your favorite Timberwolves player of all time?
️ Dillingham: “Sam Cassell. He was clutch.”
Stephon Castle
What is the one thing you plan on picking CP3’s brain about?
️ Castle: “Offensive reads. He’s probably one of the best point guards to ever play in the league.”
Donovan Clingan
How would you describe Dan Hurley’s coaching style?
️ Clingan: “Coach Hurley is the best coach in college basketball, hands down one of the most intense coaches there is, but he wants what’s best for you as a person/player and as a team.”
Ron Holland II
Which NBA player past or present do you mold your game into?
️ Holland II: “As of right now, I do a lot of film, so I’d say Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday. I see myself defending how they defend, whether it’s scoring or making plays. Really impacting winning each and every night.”
