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sports Wednesday 9 august 2023

USA Basketball rolls past Puerto Rico in World Cup tune-up opener, 117-74

By Tim Reynolds Arab Emirates for games in
Associated Press Abu Dhabi against Greece
LAS VEGAS (AP) — For an (Aug. 18) and Germany
opening statement, USA (Aug. 20).
Basketball's World Cup From there, it’s on to Ma-
team made an emphatic nila. The World Cup will
one. Anthony Edwards and be held in the Philippines,
Cam Johnson each scored Japan and Indonesia; the
15 points, and the U.S. used U.S. will be in Manila for the
a 20-0 run in the second entirety of the tournament,
half on the way to rolling and opens against New
past Puerto Rico 117-74 on Zealand on Aug. 26, fol-
Monday night in the first lowed by Greece on Aug.
World Cup tune-up for the 28 and Jordan on Aug. 30.
Americans. The Americans are tuning
Mikal Bridges scored 14 for up for a World Cup that,
the U.S., which finished with they hope, avenges the dis-
seven players in double fig- appointment of four years
ures and outscored Puerto ago. The U.S. was seventh
Rico 67-31 in the second at the World Cup in China
half. “A great night for us. in 2019, the worst finish for
... I think the guys have real- any American men's team
ly picked up what we're try- in a major international
ing to install at both ends,” United States' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against Puerto Rico during the first half of an exhibition bas- tournament.
U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. ketball game Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) The game turned into a run-
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored away in the third when the
12, Jalen Brunson scored putting egos aside just to actly as expected. Las Vegas is a Lakers’ town Americans outscored Puer-
11 points and grabbed 12 win and we’ve got a lot of “I think our whole thing is, — and those yells only got to Rico 34-18, turning what
rebounds, and Bobby Portis high-character guys. That’s if we stay solid and really louder when he made a was a seven-point halftime
and Brandon Ingram each the No. 1 priority for every play without turning it over, jumper just seconds into his lead into a 23-point edge
scored 11 for the Ameri- single one of them.” without fouling, guard the first stint with USA across his going into the fourth. The
cans. Tyrese Haliburton fin- Tremont Waters scored 3-point line and really do a chest. big run sparked that; what
ished with 12 assists for the 17 for Puerto Rico, which good job on the glass, then “We're figuring it out,” Ed- was a 74-61 game late in
U.S., which held some huge got 12 from George Con- we feel like over 40 min- wards said. the third became a 94-61
stat edges — 53-27 in re- ditt IV and 10 from Jordan utes we can wear people It was the first of five exhibi- game early in the fourth
bounding, 31-9 in points off Howard. There were spec- down,” Kerr said. tions before the World Cup and the margin never
turnovers, 10-2 in blocked tacular moments, there Paolo Banchero pretty for the Americans, and the stopped growing.
shots and shot 56% com- were sloppy moments, much blocked a shot with only one that will be played “A good five days,” Kerr
pared to Puerto Rico's 37%. there were botched plays his elbow, Edwards’ head in the U.S. The team flies to said, now that the team's
“It’s just us playing togeth- and big-time plays. And in nearly hit the backboard Malaga, Spain on Tuesday stay in Las Vegas for camp
er,” Brunson said. “We’re the end, the team with far on a dunk, Austin Reaves for games this weekend and the opener is com-
still getting to know each more talent pulled away. got cheers the moment against Slovenia and Spain, plete. “And now we're off
other, but everyone’s really In other words, it went ex- he checked in — after all, then heads to the United to Malaga.”q

Raonic edges Tiafoe in an epic first-round match at Toronto tournament

Associated Press things come together for the area between the sin-
TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s you,” Raonic said. “For me, gles stick and net post. This
Milos Raonic beat Ameri- it’s incredibly special for it area is considered a per-
can Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (12), to be here.” manent fixture so not part
7-6 (4), 6-3 in an epic first- On the deciding point of of the net.”
round match Monday night the first set, a Raonic return Raonic said the original call
at the National Bank Open. clipped the tape on top of went his way but the um-
The ninth-seeded Tiafoe the net, popped up in the pire changed his mind. The
outlasted the Canadian in air and bounced on Tia- discussion then shifted to
a 20-minute tiebreaker in foe’s side. which part of the net was
the first set. But Raonic, who The American lunged for- touched, he added.
grew up in nearby Thornhill, ward and made a cross- “I don’t have faith that
Ontario, took the second court winner. However, Tia- they were being complete-
set in a tiebreaker and went foe grabbed the top of the ly honest, but it is what it is,”
on to complete the victory net as his momentum took Raonic said. “I think they Canada's Milos Raonic plays a point back to Frances Tiafoe, of
in 2 hours, 44 minutes. him forward, which would just handled it badly. What- the United States, during the first day of the men's National Bank
This is Raonic’s third tourna- normally cost him the point. ever the rule (was), I just Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.
(Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)
ment appearance since However, the chair umpire don’t think it was handled
returning to the ATP Tour ruled in Tiafoe’s favor and (well).” The partisan crowd edge in aces. tion. He will face Japanese
in June after an injury ab- a second on-court official at Sobeys Stadium voiced “Good play and good qualifier Taro Daniel in the
sence of nearly two years. confirmed the decision. its disapproval and Raonic fortune kind of got me next round.
“It doesn’t matter how A Tennis Canada state- smashed his racket on the through,” he said. In the late match, Italy’s
much you do the right ment from tournament ref- player’s bench. Raonic has one of four Matteo Arnaldi beat Vasek
things, you never know eree Tony Cho explained Raonic was able to re- wild cards for this week’s Pospisil of Vernon, British
when things (will) click and the ruling: “Tiafoe touched set. He finished with a 37-8 56-man singles competi- Columbia, 6-4, 6-4.q