Las Vegas –
The US national basketball team surprisingly started their Olympic preparation with a defeat and lost 87:90 with the stars around Kevin Durant against Germany’s group opponent Nigeria.
According to US media, this was only the third defeat in a test match for the Americans since professionals have played in the selection in 1992 – with 54 wins. The USA won the last two duels with Nigeria by a total of 125 points. In Las Vegas, however, the team of NBA stars deservedly lost to a Nigerian selection, in which five professionals from the best basketball league in the world played, but not nearly as well-known and successful as the all-star crowd Durant, Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal.
Durant, who is under contract with the Brooklyn Nets, got just 15 points and hit only two of his first eleven attempts. In Nigeria, Gabe Vincent from the Miami Heat was the best thrower with 21 points.
At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the USA will meet in Group A against France, Iran and the Czech Republic. Germany in group B is group opponent of Nigeria and also plays against Australia and Italy.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210711-99-336825 / 3 (dpa)
