NBA-NEWS: The Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers franchise power forward have officailly inked a deal, as per ESPN, 4years, $112.4 million deal was inked after……

Team USA gets revenge — albeit in an exhibition — against the team that helped keep them from a medal a year ago as Durant misses final exhibition before Paris Olympics.

One exhibition victory doesn’t do a lot to erase Team USA’s loss to Germany in the semifinals of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but it does help to assert that the USA is still the team to beat in Group C, completing its pre-Olympic exhibition tour undefeated.

After all, only two of the 12 players on this summer’s squad were part of the national team that failed to medal in the prior World Cup, surrendering the bronze to Canada. Anthony Edwards was the alpha of that team with Tyrese Haliburton as its maestro. Those two are secondary on this team.

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker also takes a secondary role on the team but one in a starting spot, at least until his Suns teammate Kevin Durant is ready for game action and one of Booker or Jrue Holiday leaves the starting lineup. Durant missed all of the exhibition tour with a calf strain, but a report from The Athletic’s Joe Vardon said the plan is for him to play in Paris.