In a display of basketball excellence, the United States secured their dominance on the court with a resounding victory over Jordan in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, solidifying their perfect record with a commanding 110-62 win on Wednesday.
Having already secured their spot in the Second Round following previous triumphs against New Zealand and Greece, Team USA maintained their momentum and secured a flawless three-for-three record with a comfortable win over Jordan. The victory demonstrated their prowess and marked their ascension to the next stage of the tournament.
The anticipation for the clash between the United States and Jordan began with the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 draw on April 29, which placed these two teams in the same group. Given the reputation of both teams, they were widely expected to be among the contenders for the championship, with the United States holding a history of success, while Jordan had one previous World Cup win in 10 games.
From the very beginning of the game, the outcome was clear as the United States established their dominance. Jaren Jackson Jr. opened the scoring, setting the tone for what was to come. Anthony Edwards, aptly hailed as the leader of the team, swiftly made his mark by contributing 13 points in the initial moments of the game. Edwards’ brilliance shone throughout, culminating in an impressive total of 22 points, alongside 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
The undeniable highlight of the match was Edwards’ spectacular flights that ignited the United States’ offense and left Jordan struggling to counter his brilliance. The 22-year-old showcased his versatile skill set, leaving no doubt about his prowess.
Team USA dominated on various fronts, most notably in the paint, where they outscored Jordan 56-22. The game’s trajectory was set from the outset, with the United States building a substantial lead that extended to 31-12 at the end of the first quarter and a commanding 62-33 advantage at halftime.
Coach Steve Kerr demonstrated his strategic acumen by managing the team’s load effectively, with only Tyrese Haliburton logging more than 20 minutes of play against Jordan. The depth of the roster proved crucial, with various players contributing to the team’s success. Bobby Portis Jr. added 13 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 12, and Jalen Brunson scored 10 points, showcasing the cohesive team effort.
While the outcome was clear, the spirit of the Jordanian team remained resilient. Ahmad Hammouri expressed their collective effort, stating, “We tried our best, we fought. It was a really good experience for me and the guys. We just tried to have out there.”
The disparity between the two teams was acknowledged by Wesam Al-Sous, Jordan’s head coach, who noted, “You know there are big differences between USA basketball and Jordan basketball.”
The United States’ impressive win set the stage for the next phase of the tournament, where they are set to face Montenegro and Lithuania. Meanwhile, Jordan will transition to the Classification Games 17-32, pursuing their aspirations of reaching the Olympics or the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The clash between the United States and Jordan in the FIBA World Cup 2023 showcased the stark contrasts between basketball powerhouses and underscored the challenges and aspirations that define international competition. As the tournament progresses, both teams are poised for unique journeys, with Team USA seeking to build on their success and Jordan aiming to solidify their standing on the global stage.
Looking ahead, Coach Steve Kerr already has his thoughts set on Montenegro and Lithuania, and he managed the load perfectly between the 12 players throughout the Group C stage. Against Jordan, only Tyrese Haliburton logged in more than 20 minutes.
As for Jordan, Rondae Hollis Jefferson continued his remarkable journey, getting 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Ahmad Hammouri, representing Jordan, stated, “We tried our best, we fought. It was a really good experience for me and the guys. We just tried to have out there.” Wesam Al-Sous, the head coach of Jordan, acknowledged, “We tried to put up a fight, unfortunately, first quarter we were not there to put up that fight, and to show the spirit we showed in the first two games. You know there are big differences between USA basketball and Jordan basketball.”
Reflecting on the game, USA head coach Steve Kerr mentioned, “We just wanted to look at some of the lineups. The tricky part with FIBA is that you only have a few weeks to figure out your team as opposed to an NBA season where you have six or seven or eight months. We just felt like it was important to have a look at Josh (Hart) with the starting group and Brandon (Ingram) with the next group and see if the combinations fit. I liked what I saw. The game wasn’t competitive, but it was a good flow from both groups. We’ll see. We haven’t made any decision moving forward, but we just wanted to look at some things.”
Addressing the team’s depth, Anthony Edwards of Team USA emphasized, “(The depth) is super important moving forward. Some nights, I’m not going to have it. Guys like Tyrese (Haliburton), Austin (Reaves), Jalen Brunson, everybody… I mean all 12 of us can put the ball through the hoop. We just feed off of one another, that’s super important that we got that depth.”
Pre-tournament favorites USA put in another dominant basketball performance and beat Jordan 110-62 at the men’s 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila on Wednesday (30 August).
The USA were already through to the second round thanks to wins over New Zealand and Greece in their first two group games, and completed a perfect three-from-three with a comfortable victory over Jordan.
Anthony Edwards finished with a team-high 22 points and 4 assists, Bobby Portis Jr. scored 13 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. made 12 points in the blowout win.
Led by Edwards, who outscored Jordan himself with 13 points in the first quarter, the US lead 31-12 after the first ten minutes.
The USA were overpowering Jordan on both ends in the first half, and the score was 62-33 at half time.
In the third quarter, the USA maintained their domination with Edwards and Jackson Jr being instrumental in blitzing Jordan.
They eased off a bit in the beginning of the fourth quarter, but there was no doubt about the result, and the US secured a win by 48 points. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was Jordan’s top scorer making 20 points.
“Staying aggressive, staying confident, it’s just something that I do. It paid off today,” Edwards said according to the Guardian.
“It’s always fun when everybody gets to play and contribute,” USA head coach Steve Kerr added.