Team USA crushes Puerto Rico to start FIBA World Cup preparations / News - Basketnews.com

Led by Anthony Edwards and Cam Johnson, Team USA blew out Puerto Rico by 43 points in their first exhibition game before FIBA World Cup 2023.

Credit: AP – Scanpix Credit AP – Scanpix

Team USA opened their FIBA World Cup 2023 preparations by beating Puerto Rico 117-74 on Monday night.

This game marked the culmination of Team USA's conventional training camp held in Las Vegas before their international journey.

Overseas, they will meet European powerhouses, namely Slovenia, Spain, Greece, and Germany, all within a span of just eight days.

In the game vs. Jose Alvarado-less Puerto Rico, Anthony Edwards and Cam Johnson led Team USA scorers with 15 points apiece.

Mikal Bridges (14), Jaren Jackson Jr. (12), Brandon Ingram (11), Jalen Brunson (11), and Bobby Portis (11) were the other players in double digits.

Brunson added 12 rebounds to his performance, while Tyrese Haliburton dished out 12 assists to his teammates.

Team USA aims to rebound from their disappointing seventh-place finish in the FIBA World Cup 2019 – a setback that stands as their poorest performance across 15 significant tournaments since the incorporation of NBA players for the 1992 Olympics.

In the initial stage of the World Cup, Team USA is set to lock horns with New Zealand on August 26, followed by clashes against Greece on August 28 and Jordan on August 30 in the Philippines.

Team USA: Anthony Edwards 15 (4 AST, 4 STL), Cam Johnson 15 (6 REB), Mikal Bridges 14 (5 REB, 3 STL), Jaren Jackson Jr. 12 (7 REB), Brandon Ingram 11 (5 REB), Jalen Brunson 11 (12 REB), Bobby Portis 11, Austin Reaves 9 (4 REB, 4 AST), Tyrese Haliburton 7 (12 AST), Paolo Banchero 7.

Puerto Rico: Tremont Waters 17 (5 STL), Jordan Howard 13,George Conditt IV 12 (6 REB).

Team USA FIBA World Cup preparation schedule

Date Opponent Location August 7th Puerto Rico Las Vegas, USA August 12th Slovenia Malaga, Spain August 13th Spain Malaga, Spain August 18th Greece Abu Dhabi, UAE August 20th Germany Abu Dhabi, UAE

Full game highlights:

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