USA Basketball 2014 Exhibition: Late Scoring By #SplashBrothers vs Slovenia (Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images
Here’s a recap of today’s game from the #SplashBrothers Golden State Warriors perspectives of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
FIRST QUARTER
Curry committed one of USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team (#USABMNT) two turnovers in the first minute, with a bad pass to James Harden not long after Kyrie Irving started the game with an American traveling violation called by the non-American FIBA referees.
After a strong right-handed attack that rimmed off but got put back in by Harden, Curry took a break as Thompson came in.
Klay picked up two quick fouls and even had a misread on defense whereby he chose to show for help at the baseline, getting late to his his man who wound up behind a screen from the three-point elbow.
However, true to his latest additions to his repertoire, Thompson showed a strong left-handed dribble-drive that he ended up dishing over his head, after drawing help, to an open Rudy Gay. Unfortunately, Gay traveled.
At the end of the first, USA led 24-18, with DeMarcus Cousins showing some spark with a tremendous dunk. The #SplashBrothers remained scoreless, hadn’t been on the floor together yet, and USA was missing a lot of shots.
SECOND QUARTER
While the offense hadn’t flowed to either Curry or Thompson, Steph did a nice job of fighting over screens and defending Slovenia’s star and Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic.
Klay’s highlight was a jump-pass to a cutting Cousins for two, but he committed his third foul and went to the bench at that point.
USA, which hadn’t hit a three-pointer, going 0-for-4 from beyond the arc, held a 46-35 lead over Slovenia at halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
Curry started the third quarter with two technical foul shots made, after the Slovenian coach was called for a technical foul at the end of the first half.
Later, Curry finally got Team USA a three-pointer. Perhaps more impressive was a save of the ball on the defensive baseline, lobbing it to a streaking teammate for a fastbreak, after Anthony Davis blocked a Slovenian’s shot.
After good pressure defense by Curry which drew emphatic high/side fives from Irving and Harden, Curry committed his 3rd personal foul. Then not long after that, his fourth.
Thompson replaced Steph, a Splash Brother backing up the other at the 2 on this team. Klay then fed Harden for a three, then commit his fourth foul.
The ESPN2 announcer said, “Tough day for the Warriors,” as both Klay and Curry were saddled in foul trouble, with FIBA having a foul-out rule on the 5th personal foul.
With the lead at a comfortable 74-47, Thompson committed a turnover in the lane after attacking left-handed, which sparked a nice Goran Dragic wrap-around fastbreak layup.
USA outscored Slovenia 35-19 in the 3rd to take an 81-54 lead as Davis, Gay and Cousins established themselves down low.
FOURTH QUARTER
The #SplashBros got started quickly as Curry hit a three right at the start of the 4th quarter, where he may have even gotten fouled. However, that would be his final points of the game as he fouled out shortly after Klay hit a jumper.
Curry ended the game with 10 points in just 14 minutes and ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla joked that he wouldn’t have to wash his uniform.
Klay finally got some looks, barely missing a three but then knocking down the next shot, then hitting a three.
The Warriors teammates combined to hit 5 of Team USA’s 6 made three pointers and 21 points on 12 shots despite both being in foul trouble.
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