Team USA gives Italy their biggest defeat in FIBA World Cup history / News - Basketnews.com

Mikal Bridges played his best game wearing Team USA uniform, Tyrese Haliburton made six three-pointers, and the favorites never looked back from the very first minutes of the game.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Team USA silenced the critics and easily defeated Italy in the 2023 FIBA World Cup quarterfinal 100-63 (24-14, 22-10, 37-20, 17-19).

Player of the Game EFF 32 Mikal Bridges Points 24 Accuracy 8-11 Rebounds 7 Assists 1

Even though the first five minutes of the game were close, the favorites controlled the game throughout the remainder of the match.

After the first quarter, Team USA already led by 10 points. In the second quarter, the turned to higher gear and never looked back.

Mikal Bridges had his best game with the US uniform, scoring 24 points on 8-for-11 shooting, grabbing 7 rebounds, and recording 2 steals for a game-high efficiency score of 32.

Tyrese Haliburton added 18 points, all on three-pointers, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Haliburton's six made three-pointers are the most by any USA player in a quarterfinal game at the FIBA World Cup. He is only the third player to have made six or more triples in a World Cup quarterfinal game. Australia's Patty Mills made six in 2019 (vs. Czechia), and Larry Ayuso made seven in 2002 (vs. New Zealand).

Simone Fontecchio was the top scorer on the Italian roster with 18 points on a 6-for-13 shooting. He also added 5 rebounds but fouled out in 24 minutes of playing time.

This 37-point loss was Italy's heaviest defeat in the country's FIBA World Cup history. Previously, their largest negative loss occurred more than four decades ago - a 32-point loss against Yugoslavia in 1978.

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