Team USA played Italy on Tuesday in the quarterfinals stage of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and won 100-63.
For Team USA, Mikal Bridges had 24 points and six rebounds while Tyrese Haliburton had 18 points and five assists. Austin Reaves had 12 points and Jalen Brunson had nine points.
For Italy, Simone Fontecchio had 18 points and five rebounds while Stefano Tonut had 11 points and five assists. Marco Spissu had eight points and Nicolò Melli had five points.
After a first quarter in which Team USA played more of the kind of basketball that will serve them well in their pursuit of winning this tournament, the Americans blew the game open in the second quarter by winning the period 22-10 to head into halftime ahead 46-24. Team USA did a much better job of defending the perimeter and forcing Italy to beat them by making tough shots.
Brooklyn Nets wings Bridges and Cam Johnson had opposite performances in this one. Bridges, along with the aforementioned 24 points and six rebounds, also had two steals and one block for a great all-around performance. Johnson, on the other hand, played 10 minutes in this blowout, but came away with all zeroes in the box score. Being that this game was a blowout early on, it seemed that those with the hot hands continued to get the ball in a show of camaraderie amongst the team.
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