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The Team USA-Australia men’s basketball game scheduled for Friday, July 16th as a warm-up for the 2021 Summer Olympics has been canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. Earlier today Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Bradley Beal and Jerami Grant had both gone under health and safety protocols, though Grant had not tested positive for COVID. Now he reports that Friday’s game has been canceled for the same reason.
Health and safety protocols force cancellation of USA-Australia exhibition game on Friday. Team USA will conclude its exhibition schedule vs. Spain on Sunday. https://t.co/dRcr4dMjqT
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2021
Cancellation makes sense in this case, as the game is essentially meaningless while the threat of infection for both teams is not.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has also reported that Beal will not return for the Olympics and that Team USA will be looking to replace him.
The U.S. team is 1-2 so far in exhibition play, losing to Nigeria and Australia before defeating Argentina.
Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday are expected to join Team USA at the conclusion of the 2021 NBA Finals, bolstering the depleted lineup.