USA rolls past Puerto Rico in World Cup tune-up opener
United States’ Austin Reaves (15) shoots over Puerto Rico’s Stephen Thompson Jr., proper, in the course of the first half of an exhibition basketball recreation Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Picture/John Locher)
LAS VEGAS — Anthony Edwards and Cam Johnson every scored 15 factors, and USA Basketball used a 20-0 run within the second half on the way in which to rolling previous Puerto Rico 117-74 on Monday evening within the first World Cup tune-up recreation for the People.
Mikal Bridges scored 14 for the U.S., which completed with seven gamers in double figures.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 12, Jalen Brunson scored 11 factors and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Bobby Portis and Brandon Ingram every scored 11 for the People. Tyrese Haliburton completed with 12 assists for the U.S., which held a 53-27 rebounding edge.
Tyrese Haliburton finds JJJ with the no-look dime 👀#USABMNT 🇺🇸 | Stay on FS1 pic.twitter.com/Qy67L4nqVI
— NBA (@NBA) August 8, 2023
Tremont Waters scored 17 for Puerto Rico, which bought 12 from George Conditt IV and 10 from Jordan Howard.
There have been spectacular moments, there have been sloppy moments, there have been botched performs and big-time performs. And ultimately, the crew with much more expertise pulled away.
In different phrases, it went precisely as anticipated.
Paolo Banchero just about blocked a shot along with his elbow, Edwards’ head practically hit the backboard on a dunk, Austin Reaves bought cheers the second he checked in — in any case, Las Vegas is a Lakers’ city — and people yells solely bought louder when he made a jumper simply seconds into his first stint with USA throughout his chest.
Austin Reaves checks in and instantly splashes the nook 3⃣#USABMNT 🇺🇸 | Stay on FS1 pic.twitter.com/GpToKS7WUY
— NBA (@NBA) August 8, 2023
It was the primary of 5 exhibitions earlier than the World Cup for the People, and the one one which might be performed within the U.S. The crew flies to Malaga, Spain on Tuesday for video games this weekend in opposition to Slovenia and Spain, then heads to the United Arab Emirates for video games in Abu Dhabi in opposition to Greece (Aug. 18) and Germany (Aug. 20).
From there, it’s on to Manila. The World Cup might be held within the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia; the U.S. might be in Manila for everything of the match, and opens in opposition to New Zealand on Aug. 26, adopted by Greece on Aug. 28 and Jordan on Aug. 30.
The People are tuning up for a World Cup that, they hope, avenges the frustration of 4 years in the past. The U.S. was seventh on the World Cup in China in 2019, the worst end for any American males’s crew in a significant worldwide match.
The sport became a runaway within the third when the People outscored Puerto Rico 34-18, turning what was a seven-point halftime lead right into a 23-point edge going into the fourth. The massive run sparked that; what was a 74-61 recreation late within the third grew to become a 94-61 recreation early within the fourth.
TIP-INS
Puerto Rico: Just like the People, Puerto Rico will play its group-stage World Cup video games in Manila — however in a unique group. Puerto Rico will meet South Sudan on Aug. 26, Serbia on Aug. 28 and China on Aug. 30. … Waters spent previous of final season enjoying in France with Boulogne-Levallois — the crew that had No. 1 total draft decide Victor Wembanyama, now of the San Antonio Spurs.
USA: The People — since utilizing NBA gamers for these video games — improved to 11-0 in World Cup exhibition tour video games on U.S. soil, and 24-1 total in these video games. The loss was at Australia in 2019. … Reaves and Cam Johnson made their USA Basketball debuts. Josh Hart was held out to relaxation; his nationwide crew debut might come Saturday in Spain.
FOR OPENERS
The primary beginning lineup U.S. coach Steve Kerr despatched out this summer season: Bridges, Ingram, Edwards, Brunson and Jackson Jr.
SHOWING SUPPORT
Kevin Durant — a three-time Olympic gold medalist, a FIBA World Cup gold medalist and a member of USA Basketball’s board of administrators — was amongst these on the recreation, as was former USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Draymond Inexperienced, Olympic and World Cup gold medalist DeMarcus Cousins, New York coach Tom Thibodeau, Utah coach Will Hardy and New Orleans guard Jose Alvarado.
UP NEXT
Puerto Rico: Visits Italy in Ravenna, Italy on Saturday.
USA: Performs Slovenia in Malaga, Spain on Saturday.
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