Photo: Francis Malasig / EFE
By: EFE Posted 01 Sep 2023, 10:03 am EDT
The United States suffered to defeat Montenegro (83-73) this Friday in the first match of the second phase of the World Cup between the Philippines, Japan and Indonesiabut, led by Anthony Edwards’ scoring in the second half (17 points), mathematically reached the quarterfinals.
Despite maintaining the full number of victories in the competition after four games, the team coached by Steve Kerr showed its most down-to-earth version, lost the first half (37-38) and he did not settle the game until the final stretch of the last quarter.
It was also the merit of Montenegro, who with his defense exposed the mistake in the three pointer and the few ideas in the static attack of the United Stateswho was surpassed in the battle for the rebound (31 to 48) and suffered to contain the inside game of the Balkan team, whose top scorer was center Nikola Vucevic (18).
The United States entered the game cold and Montenegro took advantage of it to take advantage (4-11, min.4). The Balkan team opted for a higher quintet, which allowed them to dominate the rebound and add in the paint with Vucevic and Marko Simonovic. With Jared Jackson Jr. booked due to foul trouble, Steve Kerr turned to Bobby Portis for solidity.
The Milwaukee Bucks power forward brought energy and, along with Tyrese Haliburton’s pace in the direction of play, the American team came back with an 8-0 run at the end of the first quarter (19-18), and kept command until the middle of the second act (31-25, min.15).
However, Montenegro’s second unit stopped the escape with a defensive base and hit their tall men to turn the score around (37-38). For the first time in the competition, The United States trailed at half-time, thick in the static attack and unable to close the zone despite the entry of center Walter Kessler.
The reappearance of Jackson Jr. and the breakthrough of Anthony Edwards revitalized the United States. The Minnesota forward used individual talent to reactivate the American offense, but Vucevic and Perry responded to keep Montenegro in the game at the end of the third quarter (61-55).
Although he never gave up the Balkan team was overcome in the last quarter (85-73, final), when the United States raised the physical bar, found the success from the triple to punish the zone defense and was able to add to the counterattack after theft.
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