This archive report was first published on 14 July 2021.
On July 14, 2021, the United States men's basketball team, led by Kevin Durant, scored a convincing 108-80 victory over Argentina in a pre-Olympic exhibition at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
After consecutive defeats to Nigeria and Australia, the team, coached by Gregg Popovich, was looking to get back on track. Durant, who played for the Brooklyn Nets, led the team with 17 points and six rebounds.
Bradley Beal added 17 points, while Zach LaVine and Damian Lillard contributed 15 and 13 points, respectively. Bam Adebayo also impressed with 12 points in 18 minutes and 19 seconds of play.
"We played with more intensity," Adebayo said. "We really honed in on the defensive side and were really locked in. We were just playing basketball, reading off each (other) and making plays. That's our gift."
Popovich was pleased with the team's improved stamina, saying, "Tonight, we maintained that pretty much throughout the game. Hopefully that's a sign we're getting better."
Argentina's Luis Scola led the scoring with 16 points, while Nicolas Laprovittola and Facundo Campazzo added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
