USA bucks flat start, coasts to 99-72 win over New Zealand
MANILA, Philippines – Team USA overcame a shaky start before gradually finding their groove, fashioning out a 99-72 win over a gritty New Zealand squad to begin their redemption campaign in the FIBA World Cup Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After the first two baskets by Jalen Brunson and Brandon Ingram, the Tall Blacks uncorked a 9-0 run capped by a Finn Delany triple to erect a 10-point lead, 14-4.
It turned out to be New Zealand’s first and last double-digit cushion of the game as the Americans slowly found their rhythm, thanks to NBA players Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards and crowd favorite Austin Reaves.
Emerging from the halftime break with a 45-36 upperhand, Team USA never looked back. The Americans pulled away in the third period where they led by as much as 15 points, 62-47, after a breakaway layup by Reaves with 4:37 left in the quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s back-to-back baskets capped by a slam with over six minutes left in the final period put the US ahead by 20, 82-62. From there, the Americans coasted to the win.
Six Americans finished in double figures, led by Banchero with 21 points, Edwards with 14, Reaves and Jackson with 12 apiece, and Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton with 10 each.
Edwards added six rebounds to his name while Reaves also stood out with his passing, recording six assists.
Rebuen Terangi top-scored for New Zealand with 15 points. He was supported on offense by Delany and Shea Ili with 12 each, and Yannick Wetzell with 10.
The Americans, the No. 1 team in the final power rankings leading to the tournament, are bent on redeeming themselves from a seventh-place finish in the 2019 edition of the World Cup.
They return to Group C action on Monday at the same venue against World No. 9 Greece, which earlier routed Jordan, 92-71.
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