Edwards Comes Up Big in Team USA Wins

Anthony Edwards finally gave the fans what they wanted in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Tournament. In the Game 1 win against New Zealand, Edwards was held to 14 points On top of that, he also committed five turnovers in the contest. To his credit though, he did pace the team with seven rebounds.

Then in the Game 2 win against Greece, he scored 13 points. He only shot 4-11 from the field but committed no turnovers in the game. He even had some fun with a heckler who was trying to upset his pre-free throw routine. USA fans were anxiously waiting for his breakout game.

Edwards has a Breakout Game

The wait was soon over as Edwards scored a team-high 22 points in a 110-62 route for Team USA over Jordan. He also pitched in eight rebounds and four assists for the victorious US team. This included 3-5 shooting from three-point range and a couple of groovy dunks. Edwards has also done a tremendous job of acclimating himself to the more physical play of international basketball.

USA coach Steve Kerr has been impressed with Edwards’ defensive intensity. Kerr said “We feel like we always have the best defensive guards in the tournament, regardless of whether it’s this year or last year or the year before. This guy [Anthony Edwards] is right up there at the top. The pressure he puts on the ball, the way he stays in front, it really can confuse a defense and take them out of their stuff.”

USA Struggles Against Montenegro

Next, in the opening game of the second round, Edwards led all USA scorers with 17 points in a tougher-than-expected win over Montenegro. Team Montenegro played a spirited first half and actually led at the break 39-38. Edwards shot 0-5 to start the game and the entire USA team played the first half in a fog.

Edwards led a second-half comeback scoring all 17 of his points in that half. Montenegro kept it close for most of the game on the strength of their 49-31 rebounding advantage. Besides Edwards, Team USA‘s second-half comeback was led by Jaren Jackson Jr. who finished with 11 points, and Tyrese Haliburton who scored 10 points and collected six assists coming off of the bench.

Edwards has been having an outstanding summer playing for Team USA. He led the team in scoring through the five exhibition games averaging 19.2 points in that span. And he ended the exhibition season with a bang scoring 34 points in a Team USA victory over Germany.

Team USA Clinches Spot in the Quarterfinals

With the win over Montenegro, Team USA has clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. They next face Lithuania on Sunday. Team USA and Team Canada are still the prohibitive favorites to win the World Championship. Canada however suffered a setback yesterday when they were defeated by Brazil 69-65. Germany is a close third with the upstart Dominican Republic team trailing the first pack.

Also at stake in these championships are seven automatic berths in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The top two finishers from Europe and the Americas, plus the best-placed teams from Africa, Asia, and Oceania, will all join hosts France at next year’s Games. Let’s hope that Edwards and Team USA continue their winning ways and bring home a World Championship and an Olympic Games berth.