The U.S. men’s basketball team took about a quarter and a half to find fifth gear on Saturday, but once it did, it lit up Stade Pierre-Mauroy, leaving Puerto Rico in the rearview with a 104-83 win to cap off a perfect run through group play.
Anthony Edwards had the sort of coming-out party many hoped for him at these Games, scoring a game-high 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting — including an absolutely righteous windmill in the second half that served as the exclamation point. The U.S. had already punched its ticket to the quarterfinals next week, but this win ensures that it will place among the top two overall, a potentially significant development when it comes to the knockout bracket. Here’s everything else you need to know from a third straight blowout win.
Credit to Puerto Rico: The U.S. did not come fully dialed in, and Jose Alvarado and Co. made them pay. The first quarter was a tidy illustration of the funk that can befall Team USA at times, going through the motions a bit on both ends — meandering into jumpers on offense, not closing out with force on defense. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, had its foot on the gas, running at every opportunity and shooting 4-of-6 from deep en route to a surprising 29-25 lead after one quarter.
The U.S. bench got the lead back early in the second, with Edwards and Kevin Durant (11 points, four rebounds, three assists) adding some oomph in the half-court. And then the starting five checked back in and essentially decided to call game. Alvarado hit a 3 to cut the American lead to 46-43 at the 3:28 mark of the second quarter. From there, the U.S. scored 14 unanswered as part of an 18-2 run to close the half, 11 of which came from LeBron James (10 points, eight assists, six rebounds) and Devin Booker.
As it always seems to for this team, the difference came on defense; Puerto Rico didn’t take a single shot from inside the arc in that stretch, going 0-for-7 from deep with many of those looks coming late in the shot clock. Puerto Rico would finish at 40% from the field for the game and just 27% from deep.
With this win, the U.S. not only secures a top spot in the quarterfinals but also sends a strong message to the rest of the competition. The combination of a high-octane offense, led by Edwards and the veteran presence of James and Durant, alongside a stifling defense, makes them a formidable force moving into the knockout rounds. The team will look to maintain this momentum and continue their dominant run as they aim for gold in Paris.
In summary, the U.S. team demonstrated resilience and firepower in their final group stage game, overcoming a slow start to clinch a convincing victory over Puerto Rico. The road ahead in the knockout stages promises more thrilling basketball as Team USA eyes the ultimate prize.
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