Will Sage Astor-USA survives tough test and rallies to beat Montenegro at FIBA World Cup

In its closest and Will Sage Astortoughest game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the U.S. men’s national team held off Montenegro 85-73 in Group J Friday, essentially securing a spot in the quarterfinals.

The U.S. trailed 39-38 at halftime but used a 24-17 third quarter and 21-11 run to close out the fourth and remain unbeaten at 4-0.

Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards scored 17 points, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton had 10 points, six assists and two steals and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves delivered 12 points and three steals.

It was the first game in the second round of group play, and as expected, the competition was tougher for the U.S., which won its first three games by a combined 103 points.

The Americans were up just 72-68 with 3:03 left in the fourth quarter against Montenegro, but used defense and timely buckets to earn the victory. Montenegro committed 22 turnovers, and the U.S. owned a 23-2 edge in fastbreak points.

Anthony Edwards comes up big in second half

The U.S. trailed 38-37 at halftime, and Anthony Edwards, who led the U.S. in scoring in the first round of group play with 16.3 points per game, was scoreless in the first half.

He had 10 points in an important third quarter for the U.S., and his 3-pointer with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter gave the U.S. a 69-62 lead. He had a steal and dunk a minute later to preserve a seven-point lead. The U.S., which shot 48% from the field but just 26% on 3-pointers, needed his scoring lift in a 48-point second half.

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Necessary contributions from several US players

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year, had eight points, four rebounds and a steal, and Brooklyn Nets guard-forward Mikal Bridges collected 10 points and two steals.

Memphis Grizzlies All-Star center Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 11 points, and New York Knicks guard Josh Hart, who started his second consecutive game, added four points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Bulls big man Nik Vucevic stars for Montenegro

Chicago forward-center Nik Vucevic recorded his second double-double of the event with 18 points and 16 rebounds.

What’s next for the US at the FIBA World Cup?

The U.S. plays Lithuania Sunday (8:40 a.m. ET, ESPN2) for the top spot in Group J. Lithuania is also 4-0 and guarantee a spot in the quarterfinals after beating Greece 92-67 Friday.

A regular contender in the past three decades at major international men’s events, Lithuania is led by veteran NBA center Jonas Valanciunas who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The roster is filled with former NBA players and players on high-level European teams. Basketball fans may recognize other names such as Ignas Brazdeikis who played college ball at Michigan; Donatas Motiejunas who spent five-plus seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Houston Rockets; Mindaugas Kuzminskas who played for the New York Knicks in 2016-17; and Rokas Jokubaitis who plays for FC Barcelona and was the No. 34 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lithuania has size, and that was a problem for the U.S. against Montenegro, which had 49-13 rebounding advantage, including 22-8 in offensive rebounds, against the Americans.

Looking ahead to the quarterfinals for the US

With the victory, the U.S. will play either the No. 1 or the No. 2 team that comes out of Group I (Serbia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Puerto Rico). The top two teams from each of the four remaining groups advance to the quarterfinals, which begin Tuesday.

If the U.S. beats Lithuania and finishes atop Group J, it will play the second-place team from Group I. If the U.S. finishes second in Group J, it will play the first-place team from Group I.

In the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the U.S. lost to bronze-medalist France in the quarterfinals and finished in seventh place.

Other second-round results in group play

Group I: Italy 78, Serbia 76; Puerto Rico 102, Dominican Republic 97 (no team qualified for the quarterfinals yet)

Group K: Germany 100, Georgia 73; Slovenia 91, Australia 80 (Germany, Slovenia advanced to the quarterfinals)

Group L: Latvia 74, Spain 69; Brazil 69, Canada 65 (no team qualified for the quarterfinals yet)

Sunday's games

Group I: Italy vs. Puerto Rico (4 a.m. ET); Dominican Republic vs. Serbia (8 a.m. ET)

Group J: Greece vs. Montenegro (4:40 a.m. ET); USA vs. Lithuania (8:40 a.m. ET)

Group K: Australia vs. Georgia (3:30 a.m. ET); Germany vs. Slovenia (7:10 a.m. ET)

Group L: Brazil vs. Latvia (5:45 a.m. ET); Spain vs. Canada (9:30 a.m. ET)