The United States men’s basketball team has continued its strong form in preparation for the upcoming World Cup, defeating Puerto Rico 117-74 in an exhibition match. The USA team, led by head coach Gregg Popovich, was dominant throughout the contest, leading by as many as 45 points at one stage.
The USA team was led by Kemba Walker, who scored a game-high 24 points. He was ably supported by Donovan Mitchell, who added 19 points and seven assists, and Jayson Tatum, who chipped in with 16 points and seven rebounds. The USA team also had contributions from a number of other players, including Derrick White, who had 14 points and five assists, and Joe Harris, who had 11 points and five rebounds.
The USA team was able to take advantage of their superior size and athleticism to control the game from the outset. They outrebounded Puerto Rico 54-27 and had a huge advantage in fast break points, outscoring them 33-7. The USA team also shot the ball extremely well, making 51.7% of their shots from the field and 41.2% of their three-point attempts.
The victory was a strong statement from the USA team ahead of the World Cup, which will be held in China in August. The USA team is looking to defend their title from the last World Cup in 2014, when they defeated Serbia in the final. With this victory over Puerto Rico, they have sent a clear message that they are ready to compete for the title once again.
The USA team will now turn their attention to their next warm-up match against Australia on August 22nd. They will be looking to continue their strong form and build momentum ahead of the World Cup.
