US STRIKER GETS RED CARD, WHICH MEANS FREE PIZZAS WORTH $1 MILLION; HERE IS HOW

Balogun's dismissal means the striker will miss his country's next match and has also triggered reward for fans with free pizzas

Pizza giant Domino's is set to give out $1 million worth of free "emergency pizzas" after United States striker Folarin Balogun received a red card during his side's FIFA World Cup round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, activating a promotion the pizza chain announced months before the tournament.

The campaign was first unveiled by the company in a press release issued on May 18 as part of its marketing push around the summer's international football tournament. The company announced that it would give away $1 million worth of "emergency pizzas" if any member of the US national team received a red card during the competition, saying the offer was intended to "soften the blow" for supporters after one of football's most costly on-field punishments.

Emergency Pizza is Domino's loyalty programme reward that allows eligible customers to claim a free medium two-topping pizza for use on a future order. The company said the red card promotion was designed to turn a disappointing moment for fans into what it described as "a delicious pick-me-up".

Alongside the giveaway, Domino's also launched a limited edition capsule collection in collaboration with football lifestyle brand Saturdays Football.

"We're as excited about the summer of soccer as fans are around the country! Whether you're planning to watch all the matches or perhaps you're playing pickup games of your own, Domino's has some fun ways to help you get ready," read the press statement dated May 18.

"Not only are we launching a capsule of co-branded merchandise from Saturdays Football, but we're also giving fans the chance to win free Emergency Pizzas.

Soccer gurus know the worst thing to happen in a game is for a player on the team you're rooting for to receive a red card. If that happens to the American squad, Domino's is here to help ease the pain by giving away Emergency Pizzas. It may not change the outcome of the match, but it can provide a delicious pick-me-up when it's needed most."

Balogun's evening took a dramatic turn after he scored his third goal of the World Cup to give the United States the lead before being sent off early in the second half. The dismissal means the striker will miss his country's next match and has also triggered Domino's pledge to reward fans with free pizzas.

With Balogun's sending-off now fulfilling the promotion's only condition, Domino's is expected to honour its $1 million giveaway while the United States prepares for its next World Cup fixture without one of its leading goalscorers.

How fans can claim the free pizza

The giveaway is not automatic. Customers had to register for the promotion at the website before the deadline of 11.59 pm ET on 10 June to be eligible.

Following a red card for a US player, Domino's said it would randomly select more than 60,000 winners, each of whom will receive a free medium two-topping Emergency Pizza.

The free pizza must be claimed by 2 August 2026, according to the company's promotional terms.

TRUMP DISRESPECTS THE WOMEN’S WINTER OLYMPIC TEAM IN 'LOCKER ROOM TALK'

 

USA BEATS CANADA IN OT FOR FIRST MEN'S HOCKEY OLYMPIC GOLD IN 46 YEARS

 

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Jack Hughes took a hockey blade to the teeth in the third period, but found revenge with a dramatic one-timer in overtime to lead Team USA past Canada for the Americans' first men's hockey Olympic gold medal in 46 years Sunday in Milan, Italy.

"This is all about our country right now," Hughes said on the NBC broadcast. "I love the USA. I love my teammates. It's unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong. We have so much support amongst players. "I'm so proud to be American today."

The New Jersey Devils forward beat Canadian net minder Jordan Binnington for the golden goal 1:41 into the 3-on-3 bonus period of the 2-1 gold medal game triumph at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The score sealed the 2026 Winter Olympics title exactly 46 years to the day of the Americans' Miracle on Ice victory from the 1980 Winter Olympics

It also resulted in the first men's and women's hockey gold medal sweep for the United States at the same Olympics.

Teeth-cracking physicality was matched only by scintillating speed in the rivalry matchup, with the world-class rosters foiling vicious offensive assaults.

Canada, who played without its injured captain, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, for the second consecutive game, outshot Team USA 41-26. Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck totaled 41 saves.

"He was our best player by a mile," Hughes said of Hellebuyck. "Unbelievable game."

Binnington made 26 stops, but allowed first blood on his first save opportunity six minutes into the finale. Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy brought the initial lamp lighting.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews found Boldy behind the Team USA blue line to start the breakaway. Boldy flipped the puck up with his blade and juggled through Canadian traffic. He then faced up with Binnington and slid the puck by the St. Louis Blues goalie's right knee pad.

Canada proceeded to launch a deluge of daggers at Hellebuyck in the American net, with seven of the next eight shot attempts. But the Canadians couldn't beat the Winnipeg Jets goalie until Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar equalized with 1:44 remaining in the second period.

The deep red sweaters swarmed Hellebuyck down the stretch and increased their physicality, including a high stick from Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett to Hughes' teeth, but could not find an opening against the American goaltender, resulting in overtime.

Hellebuyck proceeded to use every inch of his frame to deny Canada's Connor McDavid-led attack until Hughes beat Binnington to end the finale.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski received the puck behind the American net at the start of the final play. He poked a pass forward to Hughes, who stabbed the puck away from Canada.

Werenski recovered the possession along the right boards as Hughes skated wide left. Werenski then found him again with a feed inside the left circle.

Hughes pulled back his stick shaft and unloaded, pelting a screamer by Binnington's for Team USA's third men's hockey Olympic gold medal.

"Unreal game by our team," Hughes said. "Just a ballsy, gutsy win. That's American hockey right there. That's a great Canadian team, but we're USA. We are so proud to be American. Tonight was all for our country."

Hughes finished the tournament as Team USA's top goal scorer, with four over six appearances in Milan. His brother, Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, logged an assist in the victory to push his total to a team-leading seven.

Hellebuyck's 95.65% save percentage was the best among Olympic goaltenders.

McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) finished the 2026 Winter Olympics with a tournament-best 13 points, from 11 assists and two goals.

Winning moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics

- Alex Butler

NBA ALL-STAR 2026 | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | TEAM USA STEIPES VS. TEAM WORLD

 

NBA ALL-STAR 2026 | GAME 4 | TEAM WORLD VS TEAM USA STRIPED

 

NBA ALL-STAR GAME | GAME 1 | TEAM WORLD VS. TEAM USA STRIPPED

 

NBA ALL-STAR 2026 | GAME 3 | TEAM WORLD VS. TEAM USA STRIPPED

 

COCO GAUFF BEATS IGA SWIATEK, TAKES TEAM USA TO UNITED CUPTITLE

AFP

Coco Gauff roared past Iga Swiatek to inspire team USA Sunday before Taylor Fritz sealed the United Cup title with victory over Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in Sydney. Gauff opened with a statement 6-4, 6-4 win over Swiatek in 1hr 51min of hard-hitting tennis to fire a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open. Big-serving Fritz then battled through against Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) to spark wild celebrations as the Americans won the mixed-teams cup for the second time in three years after winning the inaugural event in 2023.

For Poland it meant falling at the final hurdle again after losing to Germany 12 months ago.

Gauff set the ball rolling with a second victory in a row over Swiatek after beating the former world number one at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on her way to the title.

Gauff had won all six of her previous singles and doubles matches this week and continued her streak when Swiatek double-faulted on match point at 4-5, 30-40 in the second set.

"I think I have the belief that I am one of the best players in the world, and when I play good tennis, it's hard for me to be beaten," said Gauff, who won the award as player of the tournament.

'Tough today'

The 20-year-old will go into the first Grand Slam of the year next Sunday unbeaten in singles since losing to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Wuhan semi-finals in October, and brimming with confidence.

"Today I think I played great tennis, and I'm happy to get a point," she said. "It was tough today. I'm not gonna lie."

Gauff's victory left the United States one win away from lifting the title for the second time, and Fritz delivered after edging a third-set tiebreak to seal a tense encounter.

"It's been a great week," said Fritz.

"They're an incredibly tough team and the margins are very small," he added after a serve-dominated match that featured 30 aces and just three break points.

"I feel like it could have always gone either way. Just want to say thanks to my whole team."

Earlier, Swiatek took a medical timeout at 5-4 down in the second set to have strapping put on her niggling left thigh which has bothered her all week in Sydney.

After losing to Gauff, Swiatek left the court in tears, walking gingerly, but returned laughing and joking during the trophy presentations.

Red-hot Gauff, who did not drop a set in five singles matches, goes into the Australian Open as world number three.

She enjoyed United Cup singles wins over Leylah Fernandez, Donna Vekic, Zhang Shuai, Karolina Muchova and Swiatek.

Fritz, who is at career-best number four in the rankings, dropped his opening United Cup match to Felix Auger-Aliassime but then won four straight.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

- Agence France-Presse

BARACK OBAMA VISIT INSPIRES US SOLHEIM CUP TEAM FOR 'UNFINISHED BUSINESS'

• 44th US president offers course insight at team dinner
• Khang: ‘It was just cool to have a past president show up’

The US Solheim Cup team hope words of encouragement from Barack Obama can inspire them to complete “unfinished business” when facing Europe this weekend.

Obama was a surprise visitor to a Team USA dinner in Washington DC on Monday evening. The 44th president of the US had scope to offer ­special insight; he has been a member of the ­Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, where the ­Solheim Cup is being contested, since 2017. A relaxed Obama posed for pictures with Stacy Lewis and her US squad.

Europe defeated the US in 2019 and 2021. When this event was last staged, in Spain last year, a tie allowed the Europeans to retain the trophy. “We got some unfinished business,” Nelly Korda, the US team’s world No 1, said.

Megan Khang expanded on Korda’s point. “Some people have asked me what one word would be to describe Team USA this year and I’m just going to say ‘hungry’,” she said.

“Nelly and I, being on the same amount of Solheim Cups and not getting the job done kind of leaves not necessarily the best taste in your mouth. Luckily we didn’t have to wait two years. We have this year to get back at it and I can tell you now we’re more hungry than ever.”

Obama made quite the impression. “He knew all of our names,” Korda said. “He congratulated all of us on all of our success as well.” Khang, the world No 21, was even more effusive. “It was just super cool to have a past president show up to team dinner,” she said.

“It’s pretty incredible he took time out of his day to come meet all of us. I know he plays out of here. The appreciation for the time he gave up to come to see us is incredible.”

Suzann Pettersen, the European captain, denied that recent ­outcomes render her team the favourites here. The world rankings would certainly point towards an overdue US success.

“I think playing away, you’re always an underdog,” the ­Norwegian said. “I think that’s how we’ve always looked at it. If you look at the previous three Solheims, we’ve come out on the high side and we’re going to try and keep that going for sure. I’m very happy to kind of leave the pressure to the Americans to say they are the home favourites.”

A notable name in Lewis’s team is Alison Lee. In her last Solheim Cup appearance, in Germany in 2015, Lee was involved in a hugely dramatic scene after wrongly believing that a putt had been conceded and ­picking up her ball. The European player who clashed with Lee at that point? Pettersen.

Lee gave the impression she is not entirely ready to let sleeping dogs lie when asked how her relationship with Pettersen stands now.

“I’m not going to lie, I haven’t really talked to her at all since then,” Lee said. “I don’t think about it too often. It was a very long time ago. I would say in the moment it was tough.”

BARACK OBAMA COMES OUT FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF USA BASKETBALL

OBAMA'S EPIC HANDSHAKE ROUTINE WITH CURRY & LEBRON GOES VIRAL | A REAL-LIFE 'KEY & PEELE' MOMENT

 

2024 OLYMPIC BASKETBALL: BIGGEST STORYLINES AHEAD OF THE NBA SEASON

Stephen Curry had 36 points in the semifinal game against Serbia and led Team USA with 24 points in the gold medal matchup against France on Saturday. (Photo by Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images)

In 16 days of competition, the best players from around the world participated in some of the most exciting games of basketball, from France's upset win over Canada in the knockout rounds to Nikola Jokic leading Serbia to its first medal since 2016.

Team USA's superstar team completed a dominant Olympic run on Saturday by defeating France 98-87 in the final matchup to claim its 17th gold medal.

As the 2024 Olympics come to end, let's take a look at our Insiders' thoughts on some of the biggest NBA storylines from men's basketball, including Curry's comeback, Victor Wembanyama's Olympic debut and Team USA's sleeper MVP.

Don't sleep on Stephen Curry

The final few minutes of Team USA's gold medal game against host team France provided a moment all too familiar to Golden State Warriors and Curry fans everywhere. In a back-and-forth game that came down to the fourth quarter, the United States' double-digit lead shrank to just three points with three minutes to go in the game.

Curry, no stranger to pressure, knocked down four straight 3s, including a signature pull-up 3 that sealed the win and prompted him to pull out his "night night" celebration.

Curry struggled early on in the Olympics, scoring only 12 points through the first four games, but showed up when it mattered most, scoring 36 points against Serbia in the semifinals and 24 on Saturday, including 12 straight to secure the gold medal.

In his first Olympics, Curry was playing with an elevated sense of joy -- something that hasn't been seen the past few NBA seasons.

With the 2024-25 NBA season right around the corner, the Warriors can only hope the revitalized energy of their veteran guard carries over to their franchise as they start a new era without Klay Thompson.

Now, more than ever, the Warriors' success rides on the shoulders of Curry and how he can galvanize his group. -- Kendra Andrews

Wemby's dominant Olympic tournament won't be his last

Wembanyama's first foray into Olympic play didn't end the way the 20-year-old wanted. As Wembanyama walked off the court on Saturday night in Paris, he did so with tears in his eyes -- it was the biggest game of his young career. A chance to bring the gold medal to his home country while playing on home soil against Team USA, one of the greatest collections of talent ever assembled, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the NBA Rookie of the Year. And France came up just short.

Wembanyama did everything he could -- he averaged 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per game -- but could not crack the dominant U.S team. But Wembanyama's opportunity to reach the gold medal match again will come soon enough -- he will be 24 by the time the Los Angeles Olympics roll around, and the young French talent will continue to grow in the NBA until then.

Victor Wembanyama led France in points, rebounds and assists during the 2024 Olympics and had 26 points against Team USA in the gold medal matchup. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

France coach Vincent Collet proved he was willing to do whatever it took to get gold. Rudy Gobert, the NBA's reigning and four-time Defensive Player of the Year, was dealing with a finger injury and played just 21 minutes in France's final three games, also a result of Collet's decision to move to a smaller lineup.

Will there be a France-USA trilogy in Los Angeles? Wembanyama led France in points, rebounds and assists this summer; if he continues on the dominant path he showed in his rookie season, the results in four years might be different. -- Andrew Lopez

Devin Booker's shifted role

A perennial All-Star but just a two-time All-NBA pick, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker found himself as part of coach Steve Kerr's crunch-time lineup alongside MVPs Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Kerr highlighted Booker's key role after winning gold.

"Devin was incredible. He completely changed his role from the NBA to now," Kerr said. "He was kind of our unsung MVP."

Normally a high scorer, Booker averaged 11.7 points per game in the Olympics, fewer than USA reserve Anthony Edwards. Yet Edwards' role faded in the medal rounds, when he played just 23 combined minutes, compared to Booker's 52. Not only did Booker serve as Team USA's primary perimeter defender in the gold medal game, he spaced the floor by shooting 13-of-23 (56.5%) on 3s.

That might not translate to the NBA, where Booker will inevitably be asked by new Suns coach Mike Budenholzer to spend more of his energy creating shots. But if the addition of point guard Tyus Jones can move Booker to more of an off-ball role after he averaged a career-high 6.3 assists per game last season, it could help Booker lift his efficiency to the levels we saw in Paris. -- Kevin Pelton

- NBA Insiders

KEVIN DURANT BUYS STAKE IN LEAGUE 1 CHAMPS PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Nike.com

NBA star Kevin Durant has become a new minority shareholder of three-time defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, the French club announced on Wednesday.

The recent Olympic gold medalist with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics has invested a few millions dollars of his own money to join the club, a source told ESPN.

He did so via Arctos Sports Partners, the American investment fund which bought a 12.5% stake in the club in 2023, with PSG valued at $4.6 billion (€4.25bn). The aim of Durant's arrival at the club is to further develop the PSG brand in the U.S. from a marketing and sponsorship point of view, especially with the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted in America over the next two summers.

Durant, 35, who plays for the Phoenix Suns, is a big soccer fan and part owner of MLS side Philadelphia Union. He is a good friend of PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi and has visited the Paris training ground and Parc des Princes stadium several times prior to his investment.

As recently as Aug. 6, he went by the Campus PSG to say hello to some of the players, staff and head coach Luis Enrique.

Durant is very excited to be involved with the club, a source told ESPN, and is very serious about his investment in the club.

- Julien Laurens, Correspondent

ARBITRATION PANEL WONT CONSIDER DECISION ON CHILES' MEDAL

Photo: Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

USA Gymnastics officials said an arbitration panel won't reconsider a decision asking gymnast Jordan Chiles to return the bronze medal she was awarded in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics.

USA Gymnastics said it will continue efforts to let Chiles keep the medal.

"USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented," USA Gymnastics said in a statement.

"We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan."

CAS voided an on-floor appeal from Chiles' coach that vaulted her to third, saying the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the one-minute time limit for scoring inquiries.

USA Gymnastics disputed the timing, saying in a statement Sunday that the agency submitted video evidence to CAS that showed Team USA coach Cecile Landi first appealed 13 seconds before the deadline.

The dispute over such minute details sets up what could be a monthslong or yearslong legal battle over the gymnastics scores.

The International Gymnastics Federation said Saturday night it would respect the court's decision and elevate Ana Barbosu of Romania to third. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the ruling Sunday, announcing it was reallocating the medal.

CAS ruled Saturday that Landi's inquiry to have 0.1 added to Chiles' score came outside the one-minute window. The CAS ad hoc committee wrote that Landi's inquiry came 1 minute, 4 seconds after Chiles' initial score was posted.

The IOC said in a statement it will be in touch with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee regarding the return of Chiles' bronze and will work with the Romanian Olympic Committee to discuss a reallocation ceremony honoring Barbosu.

The appeal could go to Switzerland's highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights.

Rebeca Andrade of Brazil won gold, and Simone Biles of the U.S. was the silver medalist.

- Associated Press 

0 MINUTES FOR JAYSON TATUM & TYRESE HALLIBURTON

 

IS MEN DISQUALIFIED FROM 4X100 RELAY AFTER BOTCHED HANDOVER

USA TODAY Sports 

SAINT-DENIS, France – The 4x100 relay Olympic medal drought continues for the U.S. men, who were disqualified after crossing the finish line in seventh place on Friday.

Canada finished first at 37.50, South Africa took second, running a 37.57 and Great Britain crossed the line at 37.61 to take bronze.

Marred by botched handoffs at previous Olympics, Team USA allowed the issue to rear its ugly head again in Paris.

The team — Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Fred Kerley — bungled the handoff between Coleman and Bednarek. The exchange was late and Bednarek had to nearly stop completely to accept the baton. By the time he received it, the U.S. team was out of position.

The team was later disqualified for running out of the zone because Coleman passed the baton outside of the handoff zone.

"Obviously we all are going to be hard on ourselves. And track and field is an individual sport so we do our own thing in sprinting. So when we come together as a team, that's the fun part of it. Obviously, it's a little disappointing, especially for America, because we wanted to do it, we wanted to bring it home, we knew we had the speed to do it," Coleman told reporters. "It just didn't happen, but we're human beings too. We've been through ups and downs in life. This is another one of those times where we've got to just keep our heads down and keep pushing."

Regardless of the runners making up the U.S. men's team, it has notoriously struggled with baton exchanges at the Olympics.

The U.S. have now had 11 dropped batons, disqualifications or bans in the Olympics and World Championships since 1995, according to Reuters. The team hasn't medaled in the 4x100 relay since taking silver at the 2004 Athens Games. The team’s last gold medal was at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Prior to this series of failures, Team USA won this event 15 times — 13 more times than any other nation.

Track and field legend Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals, called for a complete overhaul of the program after the disqualification.

"It's time to blow up the system," Lewis posted from his X account. "It is clear that EVERYONE at (USA Track & Field) is more concerned with relationships than winning. No athlete should step on the track and run another relay until this program is changed from top to bottom."

U.S. track star Noah Lyles, who won gold in the 100-meter dash and then contracted COVID-19 on Tuesday, did not take part in the men’s relay final because of his illness. But with a stable of other capable sprinters, the U.S. shouldn't have needed Lyles to medal if the handoffs were clean.

"All of us are world class, and I expect all of us will be back on the team in LA," Coleman said. "I think on home soil, we'll be able to have the confidence to bring it on home."

- Tyler Dragon 

JOEL EMBIID LAUGHS OFF JEERS, LEADS U.S. ROUT INTO OLYMPIC SEMIS

Joel Embiid of Team USA at Paris Olympics on August 6, 2024. PHOTO: GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY

PARIS -- If there's one thing Joel Embiid has learned during the Olympics, it's that the French can boo him but no one here can stop him from doing the crotch chop.

The American center's comfort level in dealing with adversity mirrored that of the rest of his teammates Tuesday as Team USA put on a clinic in a 122-87 quarterfinal victory over Brazil.

The U.S. is now two wins from a fifth consecutive gold medal and is set up for another meeting with Serbia in the semifinals on Thursday.

Kevin Durant added 11 points for Team USA, passing legend Lisa Leslie for the most points in American Olympic history.

Not only did Embiid laugh his way through the jeers from those still annoyed that he passed on France's offer to join its national team. He was all too happy to pull out one of his favorite celebrations with the WWE-inspired chop maneuver. Embiid has been fined twice -- for $60,000 -- for the move by the NBA, but on this night, league commissioner Adam Silver was at Bercy Arena only as a fan.

"Oh no, they still might find a way [to fine me], but that felt good," Embiid said with a smile. "It's good to have fun too, because at the end of the day, you got to take something out of this experience."

The U.S. needed some production from Embiid against a Brazil team with a strong front line. He was dominant right from the start, cleaning the glass effectively and showing off his classic mix of interior and perimeter scoring.

In 12 devastating minutes of work in the first half, Embiid put in 14 points with seven rebounds. Brazil was helpless in dealing with him as he made 5 of 6 shots, including two 3-pointers. The boos from the fans ebbed, which only seemed to encourage Embiid to ask for more of them.

Embiid did have a minor ankle turn, and he sat the second half as a precaution.

The antics were part of the low-stress evening Team USA was hoping for, especially after seeing underdogs apply all sorts of pressure during the day, including France upsetting Canada just as the Americans were arriving at the arena.

With Tuesday's 35-point victory, Team USA has won each of its first four games here by at least 15 points, marking the first time a U.S. men's team has done so since the 2008 Redeem Team, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Durant, who entered the game five points behind Leslie as the U.S. Olympic scoring leader, finished the day with 494 points for his career.

"Records are meant to be broken, so somebody will come along and do the same to me," Durant said. "My focus is on trying to win this gold."

All in all, it was a brilliant display of precision basketball led by LeBron James, who is steadily assembling a case for Olympic MVP. James was the catalyst for an impressive display of selfless offense, throwing an array of jaw-dropping passes that led to easy baskets for his teammates.

The most memorable happened just before the end of the first half on an inbounds pass. From half court, James threw a no-look frozen rope that threaded a tight window between Brazilian defenders and ended up perfectly in the hands of Jayson Tatum for an alley-oop.

"We had a play, but he just looked at me, so I knew he was doing the backdoor," Tatum said. "That was a hell of a pass. He put it right on the money, so he made it easy for me."

James has thrown some passes for the scrapbook already during the Paris Games, and all he did Tuesday was pile up nine assists in just 12 minutes to go with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. The only thing keeping it from being a perfect night was an elbow.

Brazil's Georginho De Paula caught James above the left eye going for a rebound midway through the third quarter, opening up a cut. James exited to the locker room, where he got four stitches, and did not return to the game. It is not expected to cost him any more time.

James' lead was infectious as Team USA displayed perhaps its best ball movement of the summer. The Americans had 18 assists on their first 19 baskets.

"For a guy who truly is a point forward at heart, for him to be the leading scorer in NBA history when that's kind of the secondary thing that he does, he's crazy," Team USA coach Steve Kerr said. "But that's LeBron."

Devin Booker, who has been one of the Americans' steadiest players, ended up leading the team in scoring with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

Brazil was fueled by former NBA player Bruno Caboclo, who had 24 points.

- Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Writer

TEAM USA ELIMINATED BY MOROCCO 🇲🇦 | TEAM USA 0-4 MOROCCO 🇲🇦 | PARIS 2024

 

BEYONCÉ INTRODUCES TEAM USA | #PARISOLYMPICS

 

TEAM USA IS ON 🔥 | #PARISOLYMPICS