On Wednesday, July 10, the much-awaited exhibition match between Team USA and Canada for the pre-Olympics took place, with Team USA winning. The 112-96 victory gave us a sneak peek at both teams’ form going into the Paris Olympics, even though the final score won’t mean much.

For the majority of the first half, the game—which wasn’t broadcast in the US—was close. Team USA was able to keep up with Canada, which was led by the tireless Dillon Brooks. At the FIBA World Cup last year, Brooks tormented Team USA’s B-team, and he seems determined to do it again. But in the second half, Team USA, with an NBA star-studded squad, gradually gained the upper hand.

With 22 points, LeBron James led the way for Team USA as he made his Olympic comeback after a one-year absence. The eternal marvel proved that he could still rule the world stage by displaying moments of extraordinary brilliance. With 18 points, another Olympian returnee, Stephen Curry, added his trademark outside shooting threat.

The new look of Team USA was equally impressive. The young point guard sensation Ja Morant dazzled with his playmaking abilities and acrobatic finishing near the rim. Another developing star, Jayson Tatum, demonstrated his offensive versatility by scoring well from all over the court.

Despite the setback, Canada displayed encouraging indicators. With a game-high 25 points in the final seconds, Brooks made it obvious that he would be a problem for Team USA all through the Olympics. With his 19 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander demonstrated his fluid scoring style. Canada showed moments of genius that indicated they could compete with the best, even though the supporting cast occasionally failed.

Storylines were present in the game. The much-awaited matchup between Brooks and James lived up to the excitement. The event gained additional drama from a few intense moments in which the two’s competitive fire was visible.

Going forward, this meeting will teach both teams a lot of important lessons. Especially on the perimeter, where Brooks exposed them, Team USA will need to tighten up their defence. Canada, on the other hand, will need to strengthen their defensive discipline overall and have greater consistency from their role players.

This pre-Olympic match served as a reminder of the fierce competition that awaits in Paris, even though the result won’t be recorded in history books. Although Team USA is still the favourite, Canada has proven they have the skill and will to compete for the gold. Come the opening day of the Olympics, basketball fans everywhere can anticipate an exciting matchup between these two dominant North American teams.