Starting 5, July 22: USA goes 5-0 in Showcase; Heat win NBA 2K25 Summer League

Shoulders strong enough to carry the flag and the US squad down the stretch the past two games.

THE LINEUP

What’s inside today’s edition?

US Men Defeat Germany: USA Basketball closed their Showcase with a close win over Germany

LeBron Clutch Again: LeBron James put the US squad on his back in the closing minutes

Summer League Champs: Heat rookie Pelle Larsson hit the game-winning bucket in OT

US Women Arrive in London: USA will face Germany in final tune-up game today (3 ET, FS1)

Nike Nationals Finals: Four championships were decided in Chicago on Monday

BUT FIRST … ⏰

The Summer League finale and what’s ahead today…

Vegas Summer League Wraps: Miami earned its first Summer League title (120-118 over Memphis) in a star-studded matchup featuring three All-Summer League First Team Members.

USA Basketball Showcase: The US Women’s National Team takes on Germany today in its final tune-up game (3 ET, FS1).

1. USA CLOSES SHOWCASE WITH CLOSE WIN OVER GERMANY

Another game, another strong test for the US Men’s National Team.

After surviving an upset scare from South Sudan (ranked 33rd in the FIBA World Rankings) on Saturday, the Americans again found themselves in a close game down the stretch against 3rd-ranked Germany on Monday.

Trailing by three entering the 4th quarter, the Americans outscored the Germans 24-17 over the final 10 minutes – with 11 points coming from LeBron James – to secure a 92-88 win and a 5-0 run in the USA Basketball Showcase. | Recap | Highlights | Final Two Minutes Uncut

• Flag Bearer Leads The Way: LeBron (game-high 20 points) led six Americans in double figures – Joel Embiid (15), Stephen Curry (13), Anthony Edwards (11), Jrue Holiday (10) and Anthony Davis (10)
• “I love the competition” – After delivering in the clutch – outscoring Germany 11-6 by himself in the final four minutes – LeBron James appreciated the challenge in the final tune-up game
• “We haven’t played our best offensive game yet” – Despite finishing the Showcase a perfect 5-0, Steph Curry says he knows there are greater heights this team can reach

Joel Embiid’s Best Showing: The starting center had his best game in the Stars and Stripes as he posted Showcase-best numbers in points (15), rebounds (8), assists (5) and minutes (22).

• Embiid: “Every season, it takes me a couple games to get going, so this was nothing different. That’s the reason why we got preseason games. I felt like myself. As we keep going, I’m gonna be playing at my MVP level.”
• Block Party: Each member of the USA starting five had a block, highlighted by this Embiid pin block that ignited a ridiculous fast break finish by Anthony Edwards late in the 1st half

NBA Stars Shine For Germany: Franz Wagner stuffed the stat sheet (18 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl) and Dennis Schroder posted a double-double (13 pts, 10 ast), while Daniel Theis (13 pts, 7 reb) and Moritz Wagner (12 pts, 7 reb) combined for 25 points.

The USA Basketball Showcase has seen the team travel from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi to London before making their way to France, where the Olympic Games begin.

• Curry: “We’ve had every experience. Now it’s obviously a matter of showing up when the lights are bright next week. I think we’re ready. I think we’re prepared. Now we have to perform.”

Basketball starts Saturday with Groups A and B tipping off in France. The U.S. men’s team begin Group C play Sunday against Nikola Jokic and Serbia at 11:15 a.m. ET (NBC).

2. LEBRON JAMES: KING OF THE CLUTCH

Two straight clutch games. Two straight dominant performances from LeBron James with the game on the line.

Saturday vs. South Sudan: LeBron scored seven of his game-high 25 points in the 4th quarter as the US avoided a major upset.

• Down by one with 20 seconds left, the Americans put the ball in LeBron’s hands coming out of a timeout and he delivered the game-winning layup with eight seconds left

Monday vs. Germany: With the score tied at 80 with just under five minutes to play, LeBron simply took over the game to help the Americans stay unbeaten.

• Six-Point Burst: In the span of 37 seconds, LeBron went on a personal 6-0 run to turn a one-point lead into a seven-point lead with 3:20 to play – a dunk off a feed from Embiid, a steal leading to a layup, and a defensive board leading to a foul and two free throws
• Final Answer: After a Schroder-to-Theis alley-oop cut the US lead to three with 1:43 left, LeBron scored the next five points to put the game away – a wing 3 and an ‘I’m the strongest guy on the court’ layup finish against three defenders to push the lead back to eight

Showing Love: His USA teammates showered him with praise after his latest heroics.

• Curry: “He keeps leveling up. It’s so impressive and inspiring obviously to see what he’s doing. With this team, it’s going to come down to the last five minutes and who can make enough plays.
• “LeBron did that the whole fourth quarter he was out there. … It was amazing to watch. He’s obviously who he is for a reason.”
• Anthony Davis: “He’s still doing this at 45” – LeBron’s L.A. teammate joked after seeing the 39-year-old take over games like this for years

Ready For More: The two games in London to close the Showcase offered a glimpse of how this US squad can execute when facing adversity.

• LeBron: “It was a good test for us. And I’m glad we were able to once again, you know, keep our composure, persevere like we did the other day versus South Sudan. It was a good win for us.”

3. HEAT WIN SUMMER LEAGUE TITLE IN OT

Heat 120, Grizzlies 118: Pelle Larsson (16 pts, 4 ast) hit the game-winning floater to reach the target score in overtime and clinch the NBA 2K25 Summer League championship for Miami – the Heat’s first Summer League title. | Recap | Wild Ending | Full Highlights

• Championship Game MVP: Josh Christopher took the honors after leading the Heat with 24 points and six 3s. Miami also got 20+ point nights from Aldones Williams (21 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast, 4 3s) and Kel’el Ware (21 pts, 10 reb)
• Memphis Trio: Jake LaRavia (32 pts, 6 reb, 3 3s), Scotty Pippen Jr. (29 pts, 5 reb, 11 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk) and GG Jackson (28 pts, 9 reb, 3 3s) did everything they could to get Memphis a second Summer League title but came up just short

Trading Clutch 3s: Miami was 19 seconds away from a win in regulation after Cole Swider’s 3 put Miami up by three, but GG Jackson responded to tie it and force OT.

• Repeat After Me: Christopher hit a deep step-back 3 to put the Heat within two points of the target, before LaRavia answered from the corner to tie it again

All-Summer League Teams: The championship game featured three of the 10 players recognized for their Summer League play in Las Vegas over the past 11 days – Memphis’ Jackson and Pippen, and Miami’s Ware.

• Most Valuable Player: Nets forward Jalen Wilson (21.8 pts, 4.6 reb, 4.4 3s per game on 55% shooting) earned MVP honors at NBA 2K25 Summer League
• Four Rookies Honored: Rookies Reed Sheppard and Ware were named to the First Team, while Bub Carrington and Donovan Clingan earned Second Team nods

4. USA WOMEN ARRIVE IN LONDON, FACE GERMANY TODAY

After facing Team WNBA at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, it was goodbye Phoenix and hello London for the US Women’s National Team.

The women’s squad faces Germany in an exhibition today after facing the WNBA All-Stars on Saturday night.

• WNBA All-Star: Their first run together came on Saturday in a 117-109 loss to a collection of their fellow WNBA All-Stars. No need to panic. The national team lost the 2021 All-Star Game before making another unbeaten run in Tokyo
• Breanna Stewart: “We’ll take this one on the chin, keep moving forward. Don’t want to peak too soon. We’re excited to get to London and really focus on this team and what our ultimate goal is.”
• Today vs. Germany: The US women (1st in FIBA’s world rankings) take on Germany (19th ranked) today at 3 ET from the O2 Arena in London. The teams will meet again in Group C play on Aug. 4

Back To Work: After making the trek across the pond, the USA women practiced on Monday, looking to build on their experience together at WNBA All-Star, continue to strengthen their continuity and figure out rotations.

An advantage for US coach Cheryl Reeve is that this roster has some built-in chemistry with teammates on both the WNBA and USA levels.

• 4 Aces: A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young
• 3 Mercury: Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Kahleah Copper
• 2 Liberty: Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu
• 1 Storm/Sun/Lynx: Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier
• 2021 National Team: Collier, Gray, Griner, Loyd, Stewart, Taurasi, Wilson
• 2022 National Team: Copper, Gray, Ionescu, Loyd, Plum, Stewart, Thomas, Wilson

Reeve: “This roster features some of the best basketball talent our country has to offer and I’m excited to lead this team with the goal of winning an eighth straight Olympic gold medal in Paris.”

5. NIKE NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Four champions were crowned at the Nike Nationals in Chicago on Monday. Let’s catch you up.

CyFair Elite Sports 68, MW Premier 55 (EYBL 17U Championship)

• Aaliyah Chavez (30 pts, 6 reb, 4 3s, 3 ast) did a bit of everything to lead CyFair over MW Premier to win the EYBL 17U Championship
• Ayla McDowell (14 pts, 9 reb) and Isabella Hines (10 pts, 6 reb) combined to add 24 points for CyFair, while Olivia Hamlin (15 pts, 5 ast) and Nation Williams (14 pts, 13 reb) led MW Premier

Cap City Ballers 58, Mokan Elite 56 (EYCL 17U Championship)

• Harissoum Coulibaly (23 pts, 15 reb, 4 ast) scored the game-winning putback layup with 14.7 seconds left to cap a 17-point 2nd-half comeback for Cap City Ballers as they rallied past Mokan Elite to capture the EYCL 17U Championship
• Penda Dieng added 13 points for Cap City, while Kirston Verhulst (14 pts, 3 ast) and Aubrey Shaw (13 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast) combined for 27 to lead Mokan Elite

Missouri Phenom 55, Mokan Elite 54 (EYBL 15U Championship)

• Ryenn Gordon (11 pts, 6 ast) hit the game-winning layup to clinch the EYBL 15U Championship for Missouri Phenom
• Jordy Hayward (12 pts) and Simone Walker (10 pts) combined to add 22 points for Missouri Phenom, while Zoey Franklin (12 pts) and Destiny Manyawu (10 pts, 9 reb) led Mokan Elite

TN Flight 63, All Iowa Attack 58 (EYBL 16U Championship)

• TN Flight had four players score in double figures – Shamira Morton (16 pts, 11 reb, 3 blk), Chelby Jordan (14 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast), Makynli Bacon (12 pts, 10 reb) and Braylee Winfrey (11 pts) – to outlast All Iowa Attack for the EYBL 16U Championship
• Macy Comito (game-highs of 24 pts and 7 ast) and Arianna Flies-Peterson (14 pts, 5 reb, 3 3s) led All Iowa Attack