All 12 players score, with 5 in double-figures, as the United States improves to 4-0 on its tune-up tour ahead of the FIBA World Cup.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A fast start was all that USA Basketball needed to remain unbeaten as it keeps moving closer to the World Cup.
Anthony Edwards scored 21 points, Cam Johnson added 13 and the U.S. never trailed Friday in a 108-86 win over Greece in a World Cup tune-up game for both teams.
Austin Reaves and Jaren Jackson Jr. each had 11 for the U.S., which improved to 4-0 in its five-game exhibition tour before flying to the Philippines next week to start World Cup play. The Americans had all 12 players score, and Mikal Bridges and Bobby Portis each finished with 10 points.
“I feel like we got it going pretty good,” Edwards said.
Greece is playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP for Milwaukee who is sidelined this summer while recovering from offseason knee surgery. Panagiotis Kalaitzakis and Nikos Rogkavopoulos each scored 12 for Greece. Thomas Walkup and Georgios Papagiannis added 11 apiece.
“These games, these friendlies, they’re glorified practices,” Walkup said. “That’s what they are. Of course you want to win, but we want to come out here to compete, get better, fix things.”
Greece, even without Antetokounmpo, figures to be the top competition for the U.S. when group-stage play starts at the World Cup next weekend. Greece is the No. 9 nation in the FIBA rankings; New Zealand is No. 26 and Jordan is No. 33.
The top two finishers in each group move to the second round. Not surprisingly, the race in Group C seems like it will be for second place after the way this exhibition turned out.
The Americans — just as they did at times in their first three exhibitions against Puerto Rico, a Slovenia team playing without Luka Doncic and Spain — looked dominant in some stretches. They had a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter, were up by 17 by the time the game was 9 minutes old and never seemed in any trouble.
That said, there are two big areas that worry U.S. coach Steve Kerr.
“The concern is turnovers and rebounds,” Kerr said. “If we stay even on the possession game, I feel great about our chances against anybody. The way teams can beat us is if they get extra possessions and force a lot of turnovers and we’re not sharp and we’re not boxing out. I’ve told our guys that. I’ll tell you guys that. It’s not really a secret. So, that’s our focus.”
The U.S. only outscored Greece 76-71 over the final 31 minutes — in large part because of 20 turnovers.
“They let up a little bit, for sure,” Walkup said. “We’re aware of that. We’re not tricking ourselves.”
Source: NBA News
