The US once more was given suits by an opponent within the opening stanza, however recovered with a devastating 62-30 run spanning the second and third quarters to go up by as many as 29 factors in a thrashing of Puerto Rico {that a} rating of 104-83 doesn’t do justice. Rising star Anthony Edwards (26 factors, 6 rebounds, and a pair of steals) had his assertion sport of the opening spherical with a handful of spotlight moments, and the group once more shared the ball with 30 assists on their 40 subject targets.
Puerto Rico linked from distance (5-for-8) and feasted on the offensive boards to make a disconcerting 11-0 run to take their greatest lead of the sport late within the first quarter. Edwards paired a wing three and a swooping layup to shut the hole to 25-29 after one.
Durant stepped in to start out the second and willed himself to a number of buckets. Regardless of the US discovering its offensive footing, Puerto Rico managed to maintain issues shut by means of the center minutes of the body. Stephen Curry’s catch-and-shoot three, sandwiched between Embiid’s bullying baskets and LeBron James’ playmaking, kickstarted a closing 18-2 run which put the US up 19 on the half.
Ismael Romero outhustled USA’s frontline within the paint and on the break for some wanted offense, whereas New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado wreaked havoc on each ends to push the US slightly out of their consolation zone. A coast-to-coast transition slam by James and an Embiid transition three pushed the Puerto Rico deficit to 24. Threes from Durant and Edwards in succession made it practically not possible for the Puerto Ricans to mount a critical comeback try.
Alongside Edwards, 5 different US gamers scored in double digits – Joel Embiid (15 factors and three rebounds), James (10 factors, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds), and Jayson Tatum (10 factors and 10 rebounds) of the starters and Kevin Durant (11 factors) and Anthony Davis (10 factors and a pair of blocks) off the bench. Jrue Vacation missed the sport with lingering accidents from the earlier tilt. Alvarado (18 factors and three assists) and Romero (12 factors and 10 rebounds) paced the Puerto Rican assault within the loss, and the US territory was eradicated with an 0-3 file.
Observations
For some odd cause, the entire reside and replay choices began with a break in play at 5:16 left within the first quarter with the US up 13-12. Perhaps USA basketball IS actually second or third fiddle in precedence with all of the gold medals that Simone Biles is profitable. There’s a great probability that Curry and Embiid missed some pictures throughout that 4+ minutes of motion.
Present Spurs that could possibly be ‘28 Olympians? Wembanyama (France), Devin Vassell (US), Jeremy Sochan (Poland – in the event that they qualify).
“Embiid Belongs on the Ground” Sequence: The Sixer backed his man into the paint and did his patented turnaround jumper halfway by means of the opening body after which swatted away an Alvarado try on the different finish. He then threw a move proper in the direction of the ankle of Devin Booker shortly after that scooted out of bounds.
FIBA Derrick Sequence: After a Davis dunk early within the second interval, White streaked in to steal the inbounds move and spoonfed Durant for the primary of two makes an attempt from straightaway (with the second getting into).
Sequence of the Sport #1: Late within the first half, James pushed the ball forward in transition to Curry, who missed badly sufficient off the backboard to permit the 39-year outdated the possibility to slam house the carom.
Sequence of the Sport #2: With the sport safely in hand, Edwards, channeling His Airness, stole an errant Puerto Rico move and did a one-handed windmill jam that seemed means cooler than how I described it simply now.
Alvarado efficiently pulled off his Grand Theft Alvarado transfer within the third quarter (lurking within the backcourt and sneaking as much as an unsuspecting ballhandler to nab a steal) – knocking it away from Embiid and recovering it deep within the nook.
The US advances to tackle Brazil within the quarterfinals with a 2:00 PM CDT tipoff on Tuesday.
