When you’ve got a combined 8 NBA titles and 6 MVPs running the break …

THE LINEUP 🏀

What’s inside today’s edition?

USA Tops Canada: Team USA won its first of five exhibitions leading up to the Paris

USA-Canada All-Access: An exclusive look at USAB’s opening showcase

Out With A Bang: The Cali Classic & SLC Summer Leagues close with two thrilling doubleheaders

WNBA Spotlight: NY wins showdown for first place, rookies shine, A’ja dominates and more

What’s Next? The Hennessy NBA Creator Cup tonight before NBA 2K25 Summer League tips Friday

BUT FIRST … ⏰

What’s coming up next in Las Vegas?

The NBA 2K25 Summer League tips off tomorrow in Las Vegas with all 30 teams in action over 11 days in the desert.

Before the NBA action tips, some of the top hoops creators take the court for the Hennessy NBA Creator Cup tonight (11 ET, NBA App).

1. TEAM USA OPENS SHOWCASE WITH WIN OVER CANADA

Team USA shook off a slow start – falling behind 11-1 in the game’s first 4:30 – to defeat Canada 86-72 in the first of five exhibition games leading up to the Olympic Games in Paris, which begin July 27. | Recap | Highlights | All-Access | Best of Team USA

• Anthonys (Anthonies?) Lead Charge: Edwards scored a game-high 13 points (including a buzzer-beating 3 to close the 3rd quarter), while Davis posted a double-double (10 pts, 11 reb, 4 blk) with defense that helped USA finish with a 9-1 edge in blocks
• Curry and LeBron: Longtime rivals Stephen Curry (12 pts, 3 3s) and LeBron James (7 pts, 5 reb, 3 stl), who met in four straight NBA Finals, not only started together, they connected on a fast break alley-oop for one of the biggest highlights of the night
• Sharing Is Caring: That Steph-to-Bron connection was one of 25 assists on 37 buckets for Team USA. Tyrese Haliburton (2 pts, 6 ast, 4 stl) led eight Americans with at least two assists in the game

• Embiid’s Early Exit: Joel Embiid’s Team USA debut was limited to 12 minutes as he fouled out with five points and six boards
• Dominant 2nd Quarter: Trailing 21-14 after the 1st quarter, the Americans won the 2nd quarter 27-12 to take an eight-point lead into the half. Over the 2nd and 3rd quarters combined, the US outscored Canada 55-33
• Playing Shorthanded: Team USA was without Kevin Durant (calf) and Derrick White, who was just named to the team on Wednesday after Kawhi Leonard’s withdrawal
• Canada’s Best: RJ Barrett (12 pts, 5 reb), Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10 pts each) combined for 32 points to lead the Canadians, who were unable to follow their FIBA World Cup win over the US with a win against the Olympic team

2. USA vs. CANADA ALL-ACCESS

Team USA and Canada put on a show Wednesday night in Vegas, and our all-access cameras captured an exclusive behind-the-scenes perspective, from arena arrivals to courtside celebrations.

The action began hours before tip-off, as both teams prepared to represent their country together for the first time.

• The Hosts Are Here: Team USA arrives at T-Mobile Arena
• Canada In The Building: SGA and Team Canada enter the venue
• LeBron Watches Bronny: LBJ streams the Lakers Summer League game while stretching in USAB’s locker room
• Steph Slam: Steph gets up for a left-handed jam in warmups
• Wolves Ready Up: Wolves teammates Anthony Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker get ready to square off as opponents

The anticipation spiked moments before the opening jump, as “U-S-A” chants filled the arena while the stars made their final preparations.

• American Energy: Hear the Vegas crowd roar and witness LeBron’s chalk toss courtside
• Steph & The Stanchion: Steph stays true to his pregame ritual
• Obama In The House: President Barack Obama takes in the National Anthem

Then, some of the best players on the planet were off and running as international teammates.

• Tik-Tac-Toe: A LeBron outlet, a Steph BTB and a Jrue finish from inside the arena
• Ant, Man: Anthony Edwards’ silky reverse lay in slow-mo
• Steph The Showman: Steph strikes a pose after finishing an and-1 (This angle is even better 😂)
• First Dub Feeling: Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and Ant share their immediate thoughts after the win

3. FINAL DAY OF CALI CLASSIC & SLC SUMMER LEAGUE

The California Classic and Salt Lake Summer League both concluded Wednesday night with doubleheaders that went down to the wire.

California Classic | Best of Day 4

Warriors 91, Kings 2 90: Brandin Podziemski (15 pts, 4 ast) and the Warriors (3-0) hoisted the Mitch Richmond Trophy by claiming the Battle of NorCal against co-hosts Sacramento (1-2), who saw Keon Ellis’ potential game-winning 3 fall short at the buzzer. | Recap | Highlights

• Sacramento Spark: Ellis dropped a game-high 30 points with four 3s, while former Gonzaga All-American Drew Timme added 13 pts
• Veteran Warrior: Kevin Knox II (19 pts, 5 reb) – the Knicks’ ninth overall pick in the 2018 Draft – led Golden State in scoring

Heat 80, Lakers 76: Alondes Williams and Keshad Johnson scored 21 apiece as the Heat (2-1) rallied in the 4th quarter to defeat Dalton Knecht (20 pts, 9 reb), Colin Castleton (18 pts, 11 reb) and the Lakers (0-3). | Recap | Highlights

• LA Spotlight: Bronny James (3 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk) made his presence felt defensively and linked up with Knecht early
• Closing Heat: Williams – a 2024 First Team All-NBA G League guard – finished a spinning drive off the glass in the clutch, and Josh Christopher (11 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) scored seven in the 4th quarter

Salt Lake City Summer League | Best of Day 3

Jazz 93, 76ers 85: Keyonte George (31 pts, 5 ast) shined as he propelled the Jazz (2-1) to a late win over Ricky Council IV (20 pts, 6-11 fg, 1 stl) and the Sixers (1-2). | Recap | Highlights

• Jumping Jazz: Utah’s 28th overall pick in 2023, Brice Sensabaugh (17 pts, 2 ast), found George for a game-clinching lob
• Flying Philly: Council IV had a must-see oop of his own – literally – and Philly’s 41st pick, Adem Bona threw down a two-handed slam

Thunder 80, Grizzlies 77: OKC’s 38th pick Ajay Mitchell (21 pts) and veteran Ousmane Dieng (17 pts, 8 ast) helped the Thunder (2-1) stave off Trey Jemison (20 pts, 8 reb) and the Grizzlies (1-2). | Recap | All-Access

• Memphis Four: GG Jackson II (18 pts, 7 reb), Timmy Allen (17 pts, 3 ast) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (17 pts, 5 ast, 3 stl) combined with Jemison for 72 of the Grizzlies’ 77 points
• Thunder Strike: Dieng hit a late step-back 3 to extend OKC’s lead, and sophomore Adam Flagler (11 pts) also scored in double figures

4. WNBA: FIRST PLACE SHOWDOWN, RECORD PERFORMANCES

Showdown For First Place: In a game between the W’s top two teams, Sabrina Ionescu (21 pts, 5 ast) and Breanna Stewart (18 pts, 14 reb) led the Liberty to a 71-68 win against DeWanna Bonner (22 pts, 9 reb) and the Sun to claim sole possession of first place at 18-4.

• Clutch Sabrina: Ionescu hit the go-ahead jumper with 1:58 left, put the Liberty up three with a running floater with four seconds left, then iced the game on defense, blocking Tyasha Harris’ 3-point attempt at the buzzer

Rookies Making History: Caitlin Clark posted a stat line never seen in NBA or WNBA history since blocks became an official NBA stat in 1973-74 – 29 pts, 13 ast, 5 reb, 5 3pm, 5 stl and 3 blk – during Indy’s loss to Washington on Wednesday.

• Reese’s Streak: Angel Reese (11 pts, 13 reb) extended her record double-double streak to 14 straight games with a free throw in the closing seconds of Chicago’s win over Atlanta

A’ja’s 20/20 Vision: Two-time MVP A’ja Wilson (24 pts, 20 rebs, 4 blk) recorded her first career 20/20 game in Las Vegas’ win over Seattle. A’ja is the first player in WNBA history with 550+ points and 200+ rebounds through the first 21 games of a season.

• Top 5 x 4: Wilson leads the W in points (26.9 ppg) and blocks (2.7 bpg) and ranks in the top five in rebounds (11.3 rpg, 2nd) and steals (1.9 spg, 5th)
• The defending champs are 8-1 in their last nine games (all since Chelsea Gray’s season debut) after a 6-6 start to the season

5. LOOK AHEAD: HENNESSY NBA CREATOR CUP & 2K25 SUMMER LEAGUE

On Friday, all 30 NBA teams meet for the 20th year of Summer League hoops in Las Vegas

But first, Vegas will host the second-ever Hennessy NBA Creator Cup tonight at 11 ET (NBA App).

What is the Creator Cup? Brush up on the details below as some of the biggest basketball internet personalities and content creators get ready to showcase their skills in a game of hoops.

• The Format: The Hennessy NBA Creator Cup is a 5 vs. 5 exhibition match between some of the most popular names on the internet, providing a unique look at their talents on the hardwood
• The Twist: In between quarters, creators from both teams will perform challenges to put their games on display
• The History: The Inaugural Creator Cup took place in November in conjunction with the NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament. See the best moments from the event’s debut here

On Friday, the NBA 2K25 Summer League gets underway, marking the 20th anniversary of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

• Then: The NBA Summer League in Vegas debuted in 2004 with six NBA teams playing a total of 13 games
• Now: All 30 NBA teams will play in Vegas for the sixth straight time, and the event will feature a total of 76 games with each team playing in at least five
• Today’s Format: After each team’s first four games, the top four teams will advance to a single-elimination semifinals, capped by the championship on Monday, July 22 at 9 ET (ESPN)

The tournament begins with seven games on Friday, headlined by the top two picks in the 2024 Draft – Zaccharie Risacher (No. 1, Hawks) and Alex Sarr (No. 2, Wizards) – going head-to-head as Atlanta faces Washington at 9:30 ET on ESPN.

• Tomorrow: We’ll break down all seven of Friday’s opening games, including key matchups and rookie debuts