In the heart of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, basketball enthusiasts were treated to two electrifying games that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The basketball titans of Team USA faced an unexpected challenge against Montenegro, striving to maintain their pristine record. Simultaneously, a Caribbean battle saw the Dominican Republic, powered by NBA sensation Karl-Anthony Towns, face off against an energetic Puerto Rican team.
United States vs. Montenegro
Team USA narrowly edged Montenegro with an 85-73 victory, marking its most challenging game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, but keeping its undefeated streak alive at 4-0.
Anthony Edwards had a breakout second half, contributing 17 points after a quiet first half. Austin Reaves stood out with 12 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 11. Both Tyrese Haliburton and Mikal Bridges offered 10 additional points apiece. Edwards played a pivotal role in the third quarter, securing 10 points and giving the U.S. a 61-55 lead as they entered the final quarter. With the outcome uncertain, Edwards' decisive plays kept Montenegro's attempts in check.
Montenegro's best player, the Bulls' Nikola Vucevic, showed his prowess with 18 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks. They were also superior in rebounding, outrebounding Team USA 49-31, leading to 22 key second-chance points.
The U.S. had a tough time from 3-point range, hitting only 5 of 19 shots. However, their defensive play was their salvation, causing Montenegro to turn the ball over 22 times. This defensive strategy allowed the U.S. to gain a significant 23-2 advantage in fast break points.
Even in the midst of these struggles, Steve Kerr's team maintained its composure. With only a 5-point deficit (71-66) and four minutes remaining, Reaves, Jackson Jr. and Edwards scored crucial shots, setting the stage for their victory.
In this nail-biting game, the United States recorded 20 successful free throws out of 30 attempts and 12 turnovers. Anthony Edwards' outstanding performance consisted of 17 points and 3 rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Reaves, Jackson Jr, Haliburton and Bridges also made notable contributions, each scoring in double figures. Meanwhile, NBA star Vucevic was Montenegro's most outstanding player, recording game-high points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 ends Dominican Republic's undefeated streak 🇩🇴 by beating them 102-97 in the FIBA World Cup 🏀
Tremont Waters 37 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds.
PR and DR now have 3-1 records. pic.twitter.com/CrlD2baEad
- All Sport News (@All_SportNews) September 1, 2023
Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico
In a thrilling contest, Karl-Anthony Towns showed a stellar performance on both ends of the court. However, his efforts could not carry the Dominican Republic past Puerto Rico, who emerged victorious with a 102-97 score, with quarter breaks of 17-12, 28-33, 24-29 and 33-23.
Although the Dominican Republic held the lead for the most part, Puerto Rico shifted gears in the final quarter. Despite holding an eight-point lead with just over six minutes to go (84-76), the Dominicans faced a relentless 10-0 surge by Puerto Rico, which turned the tide 86-84 in their favor.
As the clock ticked down, Puerto Rico executed several crucial plays, solidifying their important victory. Towns, for the Dominican Republic, had an outstanding performance, scoring a game-high 39 points, shooting 13/27 from the field, 4/11 beyond the arc and a perfect 9/9 from the free throw line. He also contributed 10 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. Joining him on the list of top players was Andres Felix, who contributed 22 points, 5 boards and 8 assists.
On the Puerto Rican side, Tremont Waters offered a performance to remember. He scored 37 points, shooting 11 of 22, accompanied by 7 rebounds and 11 assists, culminating in an efficiency rating of 43.
With this nail-biting encounter in the books, both teams are poised at a crucial juncture. Both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic need victories in their final games of the Second Round to secure their spots in the quarterfinals.
