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2024 Paris Olympics

Devin Booker leads Team USA in scoring in commanding win over Brazil

© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Booker dominated with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting in only 15 minutes in Team USA’s commanding 122-87 victory over Brazil.

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Booker, who only played in the first and third quarters, started alongside Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Joel Embiid, the starting lineup coach Steve Kerr has used the most this summer.

Today, Booker played the role of a 3-point sniper, connecting on 5-of-7 of his shots from 3-point range. He also had three rebounds and three assists.

“You just never know when your night is going to be,” Booker said on NBC after the game. “You always have to be prepared for it, but locking into the details of the game is an important part, defending at a high level is what the team needs.”

Booker’s strong play helped the United States advance to the semifinals, where they will take on Serbia on Thursday.

Booker was on fire all game long

Booker scored the first points of the game for the U.S. on an offensive rebound off a Holiday miss and a putback layup a minute into the game. He then found Embiid for 3 for an assist on the next offensive possession. Booker’s next bucket came on a tightly contested 3 off of an assist by James to put the U.S. up 16-6 with 5:57 left in the first quarter, as the Americans started 7-for-9 from the field. Following a Brazil timeout, Booker found Embiid again for an easy layup after a nice drive to the basket.

Booker was not done in the first quarter. He connected with Embiid once again, as the big man hit his second 3 of the game with 4:14 to go in the quarter. Booker cashed another 3 with 3:10 remaining in the first, as Team USA started 4-for-4 from 3, and was fouled in the process, bringing Booker’s early point total up to 9 as the U.S. went up 27-14.

The only negative for Booker in the first quarter was two early fouls, as he subbed out with 2:55 to go in the quarter with a team-high nine points (3-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3), three rebounds, three assists and was a +13 plus/minus.

Despite his big first quarter, Booker did not play in the second quarter, as the U.S. closed the half on a 15-0 run to take a 63-36 lead into the break.

Booker was back in to start the third quarter. After missing his first 3-point attempt, Team USA got the offensive rebound and found Booker again, and he cashed the reload 3 to give the U.S. a 69-41 advantage with 8:23 left in the quarter. Booker was truly on fire, next hitting a deep 3 off a pass from James with 6:26 to go, giving him his team-high 15th point and the U.S. a 74-46 lead. He missed his next 3 with 5:27 remaining.

Booker stayed in as the starters subbed out and hit another 3-pointer with 3:37 remaining. He checked out with 1:52 to go in the quarter with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, 5-of-7 shooting from 3, three assists and three rebounds.

This was the last time Booker saw the floor, as Kerr was most likely resting him to save him for the semifinals and championship games.

Team USA cruises to 122-87 victory over Brazil to advance to Olympic semifinals

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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

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