-
Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Writer
LONDON — Here is something for everyone in the basketball world to understand as the Olympics, perhaps the most competitive international tournament in history, are about to get started.
LeBron James is not messing around. He might be 39 years old and named the country’s flag-bearer, but this is no ceremonial moment.
Monday night as he put on another display of dominance in front of the largest crowd to ever watch a basketball game in London, the fans, the opponents and even his peers on Team USA could only watch in awe.
With Germany, the current FIBA World Cup champions, trying to send a message by knocking off the Americans just days before the start of the Olympics, James grabbed the game by the horns in the same manner he has done since he was a teenager.
James scored eight vital points and wrapped them around steals, rebounds and general brute force to lead Team USA to a 92-88 victory. He finished with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists but the statistics are hardly representative of the force he played with.
As James went on a basket-steal-basket-rebound-free throws-rebound run during the middle of the fourth quarter, his teammates were bouncing around the bench area like children at recess watching it all play out.
And, by the way, he opened the game with two vicious dunks in the first three minutes.
Team USA finishes the pre-Olympic tour an imperfect 5-0. It has some issues to work on after two less-than-impressive showings in London.
But Joel Embiid was a bright spot as he continues to round into form. He had 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Steph Curry had 13 points for Team USA.
Germany has four current NBA players on its roster and is known for excellent team chemistry, which was on display in its run to the World Cup title last summer. Nearly everyone who steps on the floor can shoot the 3, they move the ball well, are very active with their hands on defense and have terrific size.
Most importantly in this game, Germany took care of the ball and was aggressive on the offensive glass.
Team USA had issues allowing dribble penetration, which led to kick-out 3-pointers in its close game against South Sudan on Saturday. It was clear this was a point of emphasis coming into the game, especially with Jrue Holiday and Anthony Edwards applying heavy ball pressure on Germany’s guards and generally better defensive focus.
The Germans struggled at times generating clean looks, and were shooting more end-of-shot-clock 3-pointers than shots out of their offense. It was the exact type of defensive response the Team USA coaches were hoping for.
But there was the problem of not ending the possessions with the Germans repeatedly getting second chances, scoring 16 points off them.
That and a spate of turnovers, especially a stretch in the third quarter where the American offense was short-circuited by five turnovers in a four-minute span, and Germany was able to overcome 36% shooting by getting 12 more shots.
Kevin Durant missed the game as he continues recovery from a right calf injury. Team USA coach Steve Kerr had hoped Durant would be able to get some minutes in London before the team left for France for final Olympic prep. Durant practiced last week and ramped up his activity level over the weekend but still was not ready Monday.
Durant flatly said “no” when he was asked last week whether his previous history with calf injuries — he had a strain in his left calf just before suffering an Achilles injury in the same leg during the 2019 Finals — affected how he was approaching his return from this injury.
As they have been since training camp in Las Vegas two weeks ago, Team USA officials privately remain optimistic Durant will be able to play in the Olympics. The roster must be finalized by Saturday.
Franz Wanger led Germany with 18 points.