Anthony Edwards Shines As Team USA Mounts Thrilling Comeback Win Against Germany

Photo: Instagram/Anthony Edwards 

In a remarkable comeback victory against Germany, Team USA faced a formidable challenge that truly tested their mettle.

The German squad, boasting NBA talent and displaying exceptional discipline, compelled the Americans to rise to the occasion. Key contributions from Tyrese Haliburton and Austin Reaves played a significant role, but it was Anthony Edwards who solidified his position as the team's standout player, positioning himself as a potential leader for the impending World Cup.

Edwards's stellar performance saw him amass 34 points, with several crucial baskets during the late stages of the game, ultimately propelling Team USA to a triumphant 99-91 comeback win over Germany. Coach Steve Kerr underscored Edwards's significance, dubbing him "unquestionably, the guy" in an interview with the Associated Press.
Notably, Edwards's impact wasn't confined to the latter stages of the match; he also kept a struggling Team USA competitive early on with an impressive 11-point display in the first quarter, highlighted by a memorable dunk over Daniel Theis. Reflecting on his standout performance, Edwards expressed, "That was the best game I've had in a minute."
The German team provided the ideal litmus test for both teams ahead of the World Cup, showcasing their NBA-caliber talent and disciplined execution. Dennis Schroder's impressive 16-point, 10-assist performance, along with the contributions of Franz and Moritz Wagner, underlined Germany's prowess.

Daniel Theis's aggressive playstyle added to their effectiveness on the court. Germany's early lead, which ballooned to 16 points in the third quarter, highlighted their success in exploiting their size advantage and adept execution.
However, the dynamic shifted with the entrance of Tyrese Haliburton and Austin Reaves from the bench. This duo not only chipped in with 16 points each but also injected much-needed energy, facilitated ball movement, and spearheaded an impressive 18-0 fourth-quarter run that secured Team USA's victory.

Despite the win, Coach Kerr acknowledged that there were areas that needed improvement, particularly Team USA's struggles against zone defense and press. The team's adaptability and response to these challenges are critical as they prepare for the World Cup.

Jaren Jackson Jr. emerged as a defensive force, tallying six blocks and containing Schroder during crucial moments. The team's defensive efforts, however, necessitated strong help defense due to difficulties at the point of attack.

As the game reached its climax, Kerr opted for a defensive lineup featuring Haliburton, Reaves, Edwards, Mikal Bridges, and Jackson. This strategic move proved effective, with Bridges contributing 11 points and Paolo Banchero adding 13.

Kerr's assessment highlighted the team's courage and room for growth, emphasizing their potential to outshine other teams despite being relatively new together. Having secured an impressive 5-0 record in tune-up games, Team USA embarks on their journey to Manila for Group C play.

Their upcoming matches against New Zealand, Greece (sans Giannis Antetokounmpo), and Jordan will determine their progression in the single-elimination knockout stage, underscoring the stakes and excitement of the impending World Cup.


Source: NBC Sports 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Evander Holyfield Reveals The Best Fighter He Ever Faced

Image
Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield Boxing legend Evander Holyfield has faced some of the sport's biggest names, and he has now revealed who he thinks was the best of them all. Holyfield, one of the most decorated boxers ever, ended his amateur career with an Olympic bronze medal. He then became a standout talent in the cruiserweight division before moving up to become a four-time heavyweight champion, despite being smaller than many of his opponents. Until Oleksandr Usyk matched his feat, Holyfield was the only man to achieve undisputed titles in both cruiserweight and heavyweight. Holyfield is well known for his infamous fight with Mike Tyson , where Tyson bit his ear, and for facing other legends like Lennox Lewis and George Foreman. But in an interview with Ring Magazine’s ‘Best I Faced’ series, Holyfield named Riddick Bowe as the greatest opponent he ever fought. Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield "I would say Bowe. I had three fights with Bowe. He was very competitive,
Read More

Katie Taylor Suspended After Controversial Win Over Amanda Serrano

Image
Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Katie Taylor will be suspended for at least 30 days after her controversial victory over Amanda Serrano on Friday night. The fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, where Taylor defended her light-welterweight titles. The bout went the full 10 rounds, with Taylor winning by unanimous decision. The judges scored it 95-94 in her favor, but the match wasn’t without controversy. Serrano suffered a bad cut from a head clash earlier in the fight, and Taylor was later penalized for a headbutt in the eighth round. After the fight, Serrano expressed her frustration. “I knew when it went to the judges it would be shady,” she said. “She kept headbutting me, but it’s not new. She did the same with Chantelle Cameron.” Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Taylor denied any foul play, saying, “The headbutt was accidental. This is a tough sport, and things like that happen. I’m not a dirty fighter.” Both fighters will be suspended for a mandatory rest perio
Read More

Ryan Garcia Plans Return To Boxing In December, Eyes Fight With Jake Paul

Image
Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Boxing star Ryan Garcia is set to return to the ring on December 30 for an exhibition fight in Japan. This will be his first match since being suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year. Garcia, known as "King Ry," will face former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo. The fight will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event on Fanmio for $49.99. “I’m excited to knock Anpo out,” Garcia said. “He tried to take down a legend like Manny Pacquiao , and I’m going to teach him some respect.” Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Anpo recently fought  Pacquiao  to a draw in an exhibition match, but Garcia claims he’ll finish the job in just three rounds. Even before stepping into the ring with Anpo, Garcia has his sights set on Jake Paul. Paul, who recently won a controversial decision against boxing legend Mike Tyson , is one of the biggest names in crossover boxing. “I’ve been quiet, but here’s the plan,” Garcia sh
Read More

Jury Rules Conor McGregor Sexually Assaulted Woman In 2018

Image
Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay €250,000 ($259,950) in damages after a jury found he sexually assaulted a woman in 2018. The verdict came on Friday after a civil trial at Ireland’s High Court. The jury, made up of eight women and four men, deliberated for over six hours before reaching their decision. The woman, Nikita Hand, said McGregor assaulted her on December 9, 2018, at a party in a hotel penthouse in Dublin. She also accused another man, James Lawrence, of assault, but the jury found Lawrence did not harm her. Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   McGregor, 36, denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual. He also denied causing any injuries. He left the court without commenting. Hand’s lawyer, John Gordon, told the court that Hand visited a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the incident, where a doctor documented her injuries. Hand testified that she met McGregor after a work Chri
Read More

Jerseys Worn By LeBron And Bronny James In Historic NBA Game Up For Sale

Image
Photo: Bronny and LeBron James / Instagram   LeBron and Bronny James made history on October 22, becoming the first father and son to play in an NBA game together. Now, the jerseys they wore during that historic game are being sold at auction. The two jerseys, both from the Los Angeles Lakers, are available through a partnership between the NBA and Sotheby’s. The auction started on Thursday, and by Thursday evening, bids had already reached $70,000. LeBron's jersey has been matched to the Lakers' 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played 34 minutes, scoring 16 points, with five rebounds and four assists. The jersey was also linked to two preseason games and the NBA media day. Photo: Bronny and LeBron James / Instagram Sotheby’s says Bronny’s jersey was worn in the second half of the game, but it could not be verified with photos because he was often seen wearing a warm-up jacket. However, the jersey was matched to four preseason games and NBA media day
Read More

Mike Tyson Responds To Evander Holyfield’s Callout: “The Trilogy Is Our Friendship”

Image
Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   Mike Tyson has addressed a challenge from his former rival, Evander Holyfield , just days after losing to Jake Paul in a much-hyped boxing match. The 58-year-old boxing legend returned to the ring last weekend but was outmatched by the younger Paul, losing by unanimous decision. While Tyson hinted at a possible fight with Logan Paul , Holyfield’s callout has sparked interest among fans. Holyfield, 61, took to Instagram to suggest a third fight with Tyson, writing, “The fans want it! #UnfinishedBusiness.” Tyson responded warmly, saying, “I love you, brother, but the trilogy is our friendship.” Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   The two have a storied history in boxing. Holyfield defeated Tyson in their first bout in 1996 and famously won their 1997 rematch when Tyson was disqualified for biting his ear. Despite their heated past, the former rivals have grown close in recent years. Holyfield last fought in 2021, while Tyson’s recent match was his first p
Read More

Francis Ngannou’s Coach Shares Tips For Tom Aspinall To Beat Jon Jones

Image
Photo: Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones / Instagram   Francis Ngannou ’s coach, Eric Nicksick , has shared advice with Tom Aspinall on how to potentially defeat Jon Jones in their rumored UFC heavyweight unification fight. Jones recently defended his heavyweight title at UFC 309 with a stunning spinning back kick knockout of Stipe Miocic . Meanwhile, Aspinall holds the interim heavyweight belt after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Nicksick, who trains fighters like Ngannou, isn’t Aspinall’s coach but has still discussed strategies with him. He believes Aspinall’s unique skills could give him a real chance to become the first fighter to officially beat Jones. Photo: Tom Aspinall / Instagram   Speaking to The Schmo, Nicksick highlighted Aspinall’s footwork and fight IQ. He said Aspinall’s ability to switch stances and adapt in the heavyweight division is rare. “You can’t just stay in Jon’s range and let him control the fight,” Nicksick said. “You have to be aggressive and not let him
Read More

Khalil Rountree Reveals He Went Blind During UFC 307 Loss To Alex Pereira

Image
Photo: Khalil Rountree / Instagram   UFC light-heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree is sharing the tough truth about his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 307. Rountree, who earned a title shot after a strong five-fight win streak, faced Pereira, the reigning champion.  Despite being the underdog, Rountree gave it his all, even knocking Pereira down in the second round. As the fight went on, Rountree was doing well and was ahead on the scorecards.  However, in the fourth round, Pereira came back strong and won with a knockout to retain his title. Many praised Rountree for his heart and performance, but what fans didn't know was that he was fighting through a serious injury. Photo: Khalil Rountree / Instagram   Speaking on the JAXXON Podcast, Rountree explained that he went blind during the fight after a hard hit from Pereira. “In the moment, I didn’t feel it,” Rountree said. “But the second shot, the one that actually split my eye, I went blind. I couldn’t see anything, just light
Read More

Jake Paul Challenges Canelo Alvarez: “He Just Wants Money”

Image
Photo: Jake Paul, Canelo Alvarez / Instagram   YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is once again calling out Mexican boxing star Canelo Alvarez , claiming he’s confident the fight will happen. Paul believes a showdown with Canelo would be a huge event, both for the sport and financially. Paul, who has built a reputation as one of the most polarizing figures in boxing, shared his thoughts after his recent victory over Mike Tyson in a highly hyped match. Despite the event's financial success, many fans were disappointed with the fight. Now, Paul says his focus is on climbing the boxing ranks and taking on the world’s best, with Canelo being his ultimate goal. “I’ve been asking for the fight for three years,” Paul said on his YouTube show, BS w/ Jake Paul . “Canelo doesn’t care about whether I’m a risk or not. He’s just thinking about the money. That’s why I think the fight will happen.” Photo: Jake Paul / Instagram Paul, who wants to fight Canelo at 200 pounds in the cruiserweight di
Read More

Jennifer Lopez Sparks Rumors of Romance With Bodyguard After Ben Affleck Split

Image
Photo: Jennifer Lopez / Instagram   Jennifer Lopez is back in the spotlight, this time with rumors about her personal life. Reports suggest the 55-year-old superstar might be getting close to her bodyguard following her recent divorce from Ben Affleck . Despite telling the public she’s “not looking for anybody” right now, insiders claim she’s enjoying some light-hearted fun. “She’s not actively dating, but she’s definitely flirting,” a source shared. “She knows this could get under Ben’s skin.” Lopez and Affleck tied the knot in 2022 after rekindling their romance. However, the relationship ended in August when Lopez filed for divorce. According to a source, “She didn’t want the divorce, but Ben has a habit of avoiding problems. Now, she’s trying to take control of the narrative.” Photo: Jennifer Lopez / Instagram   In a recent interview, Lopez spoke about the challenges of being on her own. “It’s lonely, unfamiliar, scary, and sad,” she admitted. “But I’m learning to find joy and
Read More