LAS VEGAS — Here are some observations from USA Basketball’s first exhibition game, an 86-72 win over Canada, before the team heads to Abu Dhabi.
Five-man units
Coach Steve Kerr ran out the hockey shifts for large parts of the evening, starting Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, LeBron James, Jrue Holiday and Joel Embiid. Canada jumped out to an expected lead while the turnovers mounted and the sloppiness was evident.
The second unit was anchored by Anthony Davis, with Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo — a clean 10-man rotation with Kevin Durant out and Derrick White yet to join.