(2023 Getty Images)
USA Basketball reaffirmed their status as pre-tournament favourites after defeating Greece 109-81 in their second game at the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Monday (28 August).
The victory means the US are through to the next phase of the tournament, and will face the top two teams from Group D, Montenegro and Lithuania.
Austin Reaves finished with a team-high 15 points and six assists, Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson scored 13 points apiece and Bobby Portis Jr. added 10 points as the USA went 2-0 in the tournament.
Having already beaten Greece in an exhibition game in the lead-up to the World Cup, the reigning Olympic champions were favoured to win again in Manila. And after a short, dominant spell by Greece in the first few minutes of the game, the USA found the rhythm to do just that.
Led by an inspired Brunson the US took the lead in the first quarter 19-23 and then blew it wide open in the second to establish a 13-point lead at half-time.
For those looking for a sign of the connectedness and focus of this young USA side, it was plain to see in 18/18 free throws made by half-time. By the end of the game, that stat would sit at 30/34 (88.2 per cent).
The USA later turned the screw in the third quarter, growing their lead by a further 10 points, and while there was a concerted effort by Greece to try and win the fourth and final frame, led by the game's top scorer Georgios Papagiannis (17 points), the US did not relent, flashing their flair until the end of the game.
The US will play their final Group C match against Jordan on Wednesday (30 August).
Coach Steve Kerr was all praise for his 12 when giving his assessment of the game post-match.
"[It was] a really good effort from our guys," Kerr said after.
"Our thought process every game is to wear the opponent down. We’re 12 deep on our roster and we’re just trying to stay solid on every possession and really put pressure on the opponent. We needed to do that tonight because Greece played very well."
While the US progressing out of the first round comes as no surprise to anyone watching the World Cup with the shock departure of Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallists France from the competition yesterday, Kerr took the opportunity to underline the scale of the challenge presented before his team.
"All of our guys saw the result with France and it’s a good reminder to all of us that you just can’t ease into any game in this tournament. The level of competition is so much better now worldwide than it was even eight years ago. [There’s] A lot of really good talent around the world, a lot of really good coaching. We’re going to have to play over 40 minutes to win.
"So we’re really excited to win the first two and guarantee ourselves a move to the next round. But we just keep going. One game at a time and hopefully six more."