Team USA faced Puerto Rico on Monday in the first of five exhibition games that the Americans will play before the 2023 FIBA World Cup and won 117-74.
For Team USA, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards had 15 points and four steals while Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench. Nets guard Mikal Bridges had 14 points and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. had 12 points.
For Puerto Rico, Tremont Waters had 17 points and five steals as Jordan Howard had 13 points and four assists off the bench. George Conditt IV had 12 points and Phillip Wheeler had seven points.
In the first half, both teams started the game a little rusty as both squads struggled to shoot the ball from behind the three-point arc. Team USA had some moments of erratic play, but managed to pull things together towards the end of the half. It was clear that Team USA will have to do better at the point of attack especially if other teams in the FIBA World Cup have quick guards like Tremont Waters.
In the second half, it was all Team USA. The Americans led Puerto Rico 50-43 at halftime and after the third quarter was over, Team USA was leading 84-61 as the Americans turned it up on both ends of the floor, completely frustrating Puerto Rico. To illustrate more of the dominance of Team USA, at one point, the Americans were on a 18-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters.
Here’s how Brooklyn Nets representatives Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson graded out for Team USA in this exhibition: