The USA Men’s Basketball team is ramping up for the Olympics and will take the court against Canada on Wednesday, July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The game is scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FS1. Fans looking to watch this NBA game can do so for free by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream, which both offer a free trial or with SlingTV, which doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available.
The US will be without Kevin Durant for this scrimmage as he nurses a calf injury. It also was reported on Wednesday that Kawhi Leonard will be removing himself from the team in light of an issue with his knee. Durant, who is set to appear in his fourth Olympics for Team USA this summer, is expected to remain with the squad.
The last time the USA and Canada played against each other in real competition, it was at the 2023 FIBA World Cup where Canada knocked off the US in the bronze medal game.
Fans interested in attending the other USA Basketball Showcase games can find tickets available at StubHub and VividSeats.
Who: USA vs. Canada
When: Wednesday, July 10 at 10:30 p.m. EST
Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Stream: FuboTV (free trial); Sling; DirecTV Stream (free trial)
Tickets: StubHub, *VividSeats* and SeatGeek
- New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.*
Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com. Fanatics also has a sportsbook.
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Kawhi Leonard is off the US Olympic team and USA Basketball is working on a replacement for Paris
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kawhi Leonard will not be part of the U.S. men’s basketball team that will compete in the Paris Games after all.
It would have been the first Olympic trip for Leonard, who missed 12 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ final 14 games this past season with right knee inflammation. USA Basketball said it, along with the Clippers, made the decision on Leonard’s status.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas,” USA Basketball said in a statement Wednesday. “He felt ready to compete. However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it’s in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris.”
USA Basketball will be permitted to replace Leonard on the 12-man roster and was working toward bringing in Boston Celtics guard Derrick White to take his place, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because USA Basketball did not reveal that publicly, and it wasn’t immediately clear when the addition would be finalized.
Leonard is a two-time NBA champion, six-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player, but injury issues have been a recurring theme in his career.
He has missed 256 regular-season games over the last seven years, including all of the 2021-22 season with knee trouble. He appeared in 68 games this past season for the Clippers, his most since playing in 74 for San Antonio during the 2016-17 season.
“This is just my journey,” Leonard said earlier this week, discussing his injuries. “I can’t lay out the perfect script for me. Last year I tried to play as much as possible, felt great and at a certain period of time I couldn’t go. I tried the best that I could, but it’s just my journey. I don’t want to be in a situation that (I’m) in, but I’ve got to take it for what it is. And a lot of people are watching, supporters or doubters. But I motivate a lot of people, so I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Leonard — part of a 592-person Olympic team formally named by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee earlier Wednesday — had said earlier this week that his knee was fine and he was able to resume on-court training about three weeks ago to get ready for the Games.
“I’m ready to go,” Leonard said then. “I’m playing now so, I’m happy.”
A couple of days later, hours before the first U.S. exhibition game against Canada and one day before the team departs for Abu Dhabi — the first of two international stops for more games and practices before arriving in France for the Olympics — Leonard was gone.
That leaves the U.S., at least for the very short term, with 10 available players. Kevin Durant will not play against Canada because of a calf strain and could not compete in the team’s four-day training camp in Las Vegas that ended Tuesday.
Leonard had been invited to be part of USA Basketball teams in the past and had to decline for various reasons, primarily injury issues or long playoff runs.
“I always wanted to play against other talent overseas or just other basketball styles and players,” Leonard said. “It is one of the reasons why I play the game.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article
