The United States men’s basketball team continued their preparations for the FIBA World Cup 2023 with a commanding 92-62 victory over Slovenia in Malaga on August 12th. Led by Anthony Edwards, who contributed 15 points, four rebounds, and three steals, Team USA capitalized on the absence of Luka Doncic to secure their second tune-up win ahead of the tournament’s start on August 25th. Jalen Brunson also had an impressive performance, scoring 11 points and providing eight assists, while Austin Reaves and Tyrese Haliburton each contributed 10 points.
Throughout the game, the Americans maintained their lead, finishing the first quarter with a score of 27-20 and heading into halftime with a comfortable advantage of 47-31. They continued their dominant performance in the final period, winning 25-13 to seal their victory.
Doncic was sidelined for the game after sustaining an “unfavourable blow” during Slovenia’s loss to Spain on Friday. This absence posed a significant challenge for the seventh-ranked Slovenian team. Meanwhile, Team USA, under the guidance of coach Steve Kerr, showed no mercy and outperformed Slovenia in various key metrics, including a 47-33 rebound advantage and a 13-6 lead in steals.
The Americans’ transition play was particularly impressive, with notable moments of magic showcasing the chemistry being developed behind the scenes in preparation for the World Cup. One such moment occurred when Brunson cleverly used the backboard to set up an electrifying dunk by Edwards in the second quarter.
Reflecting on the game, Kerr expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and highlighted the positive aspects of the experience, including the challenging FIBA officiating and the physicality of the game. The atmosphere and support from the Spanish fans also added to the overall excitement.
Slovenia’s Gregor Glas was the only player to reach double digits in scoring, finishing with 14 points. Former Phoenix Suns player Zoran Dragic contributed eight points to Slovenia’s efforts.
This game was the second of five exhibition matches designed to prepare Team USA for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. Their next opponent will be reigning world champions Spain, who are also ranked number one in the world.
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