VILLENEUVE-D'ASCQ, France (AP) — The question was apt, but at the same time a little flabbergasting for Stephen Curry to ponder.
Could he envision a scenario in which Kevin Durant, who shined in the U.S men’s basketball team’s Olympic-opening victory over Serbia, might continue to come off the bench?
“We’re talking about Kevin Durant as a sixth man,” Curry replied. “That tells you how good this team can be."
Highlights were plentiful for the U.S. in the Serbia win. LeBron James awed with his signature one-handed dunks and celebratory flexes. Durant had a nearly perfect shooting night in his first official basketball game in two months because of a calf strain.
And everybody – who played that is – scored.
That’s because just as eye-popping was that Jayson Tatum – the newly minted highest-paid player in the NBA – and Tyrese Haliburton, who recently signed franchise record contract himself, didn’t see the court.
It illustrates the embarrassment of riches that exists for a team that says it’s still figuring out how best to utilize its talent.
“We’re still trying to build identity around who we are with this 12-man group,” Curry said. “It’s important to stay focused on not just getting a win, but how we do it.”
Coach Steve Kerr said aside from it being almost impossible to give sufficient minutes to 12 players in a 40-minute game, the idea of sitting Tatum in particular struck him as just as unfathomable.
“It seems crazy. I thought I was crazy when I looked at everything and determined these are the lineups I wanted to get to. Jayson’s first team All-NBA three years in a row. He’s one of the best players in the world.”
So good that Kerr said on Monday that Tatum will play when the team plays South Sudan on Wednesday.
Complicating Kerr’s decision-making going forward is that Durant’s contributions off the bench continued a trend that started during the exhibition portion of the leadup to the Olympics, in which the reserves have provided needed jolts for a team prone to slow starts and turnovers. The turnover total was 17 against Serbia.
And that, too, is the result of trying to find the proper rotations on a roster layered with skill.
Curry even acknowledged being nervous before making his Olympic team debut. It showed at times when he was beaten on a couple of back cuts on defense and had another turnover on an inbounds pass.
But he also thinks the answer to fixing those issues is not getting in their heads about it.
“It’s just a matter of everybody being ready to do what you’re asked to do, because every game is going to be a little different,” Curry said. “You can pick any five of us 12 and it’s a Hall of Fame lineup out there. We just have to play like it.”
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Stephen Curry, of the United States, stands on the court in a men's basketball game against Serbia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
United States' Steph Curry, left, Tyrese Haliburton, centre, and Bam Adebayo, arrive at St Pancras Station with teammates, to take the Eurostar train as they make their way to the Olympic Games in Paris, in London, Wednesday, July 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Tyrese Haliburton shoots a free throw as the United State's men's team practiced before the start of the basketball competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 24, 2024 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
United States head coach Steve Kerr gestures in a men's basketball game against Serbia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
BOSTON (AP) — Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner both had RBI singles in the 12th inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Friday night to move into the AL’s third and final wild-card spot.
Winning for just the sixth time in their last 17 games, the Twins moved a game ahead Detroit, which lost 8-1 to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
Trevor Story drove a run with an RBI single for the Red Sox, who are 7-14 in their last 21 games and trail the Twins by five games with eight to play. They are also behind the Tigers and Seattle.
Red Sox rookie right-hander Richard Fitts became the first in club history — and only the majors’ second since 1901 — to not allow an earned run over five innings or more in his first three big league starts. He gave up five hits with three strikeouts and a walk over five shutout innings.
Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott is the other pitcher to start his career that way, when he also didn’t give up an earned run in his first three starts last season.
With runners on first and third and no outs, Larnach hit a high chop that ticked off the top of the glove of the leaping 6-foot-6 Cooper Criswell (6-5) that scored the go-ahead run. Wallner singled through a drawn-in infield and Willi Castro added a sacrifice fly.
Scott Blewett (1-0) worked the 10th for the victory and Griffin Jax got the final three outs for his 10th save despite allowing a run.
The Red Sox struck out 20 times and left 17 runners on. The Twins left 15 on base.
Both teams left two runners on in the 10th and 11th innings.
The 24-year-old Fitts was acquired in an offseason trade from the rival Yankees along with righty Greg Weissert and another minor-league pitcher for outfielder Alex Verdugo.
Story’s single gave Boston a 1-0 edge in the fourth against Minnesota starter David Festa.
The Twins tied it in the seventh when Byron Buxton scored from third on Carlos Correa’s fielder’s choice against Chris Martin on a ground ball not hit hard enough for an inning-ending double play.
Boston left the bases loaded against Jhoan Duran in the eighth when Ceddanne Rafaela lined softy to second.
In his last inning, Fitts escaped a first-and-third, one-out jam by getting Jose Miranda on a fielder’s choice before Carlos Santana flied to right.
Festa allowed only a run and four hits, striking out six and walking three in five innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Placed OF Rob Refsnyder on the 10-day injured list with a strained right forearm. … LF Jarren Duran banged his right arm and shoulder against the Green Monster, making a leaping grab, and was checked on quickly by a team trainer, but stayed in.
UP NEXT
Twins RHP Pablo López (15-8, 3.84 ERA) is scheduled to face Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (8-15, 4.19) on Saturday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers (11) is forced out at second base as Minnesota Twins second baseman Willi Castro turns the double play on Tyler O'Neill during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Connor Wong (12) steals second base against Minnesota Twins second baseman Willi Castro, front left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran (16) steals second base against Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Richard Fitts throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story watches his RBI single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Griffin Jax (22) and catcher Ryan Jeffers, left, celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox during the 12th inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
From left to right, Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers, Griffin Jax and Trevor Larnach celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox in 12 innings of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Minnesota Twins' Kyle Farmer (12) scores behind Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, right, on a single by Trevor Larnach during the 12th inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
