Team USA showcased their dominance against Jordan, securing a commanding 110-62 victory and completing a sweep of Group C in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday.
Head coach Steve Kerr made adjustments to his starting lineup for this game, replacing Brandon Ingram with Josh Hart. This alteration immediately proved beneficial as the First Five finally had a strong start, establishing a comfortable 23-6 lead, with Anthony Edwards contributing 13 points.
The second-string players also played a crucial role in maintaining the team’s energy, allowing Team USA to head into halftime with a substantial 29-point lead, 62-33.
Head coach Steve Kerr expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It’s always enjoyable when everyone gets an opportunity to play and make contributions. We had a fantastic start.”
Edwards concluded the game with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a remarkable windmill dunk during the third quarter. Bobby Portis contributed 13 points, accompanied by six rebounds and three steals, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 12 points.
Team USA asserted dominance in the paint, amassing 56 points inside while limiting the Falcons to a mere 22 points. The second-ranked powerhouse once again showcased a balanced offense, with all 12 players making their mark on the scoring column for the third consecutive game.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson managed to score 20 points and secure seven rebounds for Jordan, although he struggled with a 6-of-16 shooting performance from the field.
With an impeccable 3-0 record, Team USA advances to the second round, enjoying a day of rest before returning to action on Friday against Montenegro, led by Nikola Vucevic.
Meanwhile, the 33rd-ranked Jordan is set to commence the classification phase tomorrow against Egypt.
The Scores:
USA 110 – Edwards 22, Portis 13, Jackson Jr. 12, Brunson 10, Bridges 9, Banchero 8, Kessler 8, Reaves 8, Ingram 7, Haliburton 6, Johnson 5, Hart 2.
Jordan 62 – Hollis-Jefferson 20, Ibrahim 10, Dwairi 9, Abu Hawwas 5, Kanaan 5, Hussein 4, Alnajdawi 4, Hammouri 3, Abbas 2, Hamarsheh 0, Bzai 0.
Quarterscores: 31-12, 62-33, 87-49, 110-62.
