The young roster of Team USA made a good start in the FIBA World Cup 2023 after scoring a win against Puerto Rico with a score of 117-74. In the beginning, the American team got off to a slow start as they were playing for the first time against an international opponent after some controversies. They took their time and found their rhythm first.
USA put a great performance in second half
Team USA was leading by 50-43 at halftime, but during the second half, the team put on an amazing show that decimated Puerto Rico’s team. USA outscored the opponent by 77-31 in the last few minutes to seal a blowout 23-point win. Things turned around midway through the third quarter as the Americans entered another gear, embarking on a 20-0 run to put the game to rest.
Six players scored double digits
Six players from Team USA scored double digits, while Tyrese Haliburton got 12 dimes off the bench. Anthony Edwards and Cam Johnson were the team’s leading scorers with 15 points. Mikal Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. smashed 12 points, on the other hand. Jalen Brunson, Brandon Ingram, and Bobby Portis scored 11 points each.
Reaves was appreciated the most
Austin Reaves was the best-performing player for the USA in the first half, and he got the loudest cheer when he came inside. Reaves went 5-0 alone and finished with nine points. The Lakers’ star performance got the fans excited about the team’s chances of winning the FIBA World Cup. In 2019, they had a disappointing finish as the team was in seventh place, but this year they look promising.
The USA’s team didn’t only have a balanced roster but a stacked roster as well. The thing that was noteworthy is that they had ample backups at all five positions. The power forward and center positions, in particular, were the most important. They lacked depth in those two positions in recent tournaments, but now that they are on the international stage and games are far more physical, they have improved greatly.
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