USA 117, PUR 74
The United States tipped off the USA Basketball Showcase tonight against Puerto Rico with a 117-74 victory at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Tonight is the first of five exhibition games on the docket for the red, white and blue. The USA Basketball Showcase will span three continents (USA, ESP, UAE) and see the U.S. Men’s National Team take on some of the top teams in the World as it prepares for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup.
Next, the U.S., along with Slovenia, will be hosted by the Spanish Basketball Federation for the governing body’s 100th anniversary. The USA will play a pair of games against Slovenia and Spain in Malaga, Spain.
Josh Hart did not play vs. Puerto Rico (rest).
View the USA-Puerto Rico box score here.
TEAM NOTES
Historically Speaking: Against Puerto Rico, the USA are now 46-8 in senior national team play and 64-9 all-time.
The USA Men’s National Team has gone 60-4 in exhibition games prior to major international competitions. It has gone 24-1 in pre-World Cup/World Championship exhibition tours.
The first USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team exhibition was July 26, 1994, when the team defeated Germany, 114-81, in Charlotte.
Out and Running: The Americans scored the first bucket of the game before Puerto Rico matched and took the lead. The U.S. retook the advantage at the 4:58 mark (8-6) and kept it the rest of the way.
The team outscored Puerto Rico, 41-13, from the 2:29 mark of the third quarter to the end of the game.
Heating Up: The team turned it on in the second half, shooting 61.9% from the field (26-42 FG, 4-12 3FG) and got to the line more often in the second, converting on 11 of its 16 attempts compared to its 4-for-8 line in the first half.
PLAYER NOTES
Ant Goes Marching In: Anthony Edwards had 11 points (5-6 FG) in the quarter and finished with 15 (7-13 FG). He entered the third with four points, before helping lead the Americans on their scoring run.
Ripping the Nets: Cam Johnson tied Edwards with a team-high 15 points and shot 70% (7-10 FG, 1-4 3FG) from the field. His Nets teammate Mikal Bridges contributed 14 points (6-9 FG).
Big on the Boards: Jalen Brunson recorded a double-double and led the team in rebounding after collecting 12 boards on the night (10 DR). The Knicks guard did not record 10+ rebounds in 2022-23 and has only done so four times in his NBA career.
The New Guys: Johnson and Austin Reaves made their USA Basketball debuts tonight. Tyronn Lue also made his USA Basketball coaching debut.
What's Next
USA vs. SLO | Aug. 12, 2023 @ 3:30 p.m. ET | Malaga, Spain | FS1
A game recap will be published on usab.com.
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