• Narration: So we live the game
  • Classification: This is group E
  • Spain. Llull's "two mandarins" and the renewed strength

The American team fulfilled its favorite role after winning a combative Czech Republic by 88-67 in a decaffeinated match in which there were no brilliant performances. The Americans partially removed the shadow of a team with few stars and set aside the stumbling block of Australia a week ago, which they lost for the first time in 13 years. And the Czechs, who occupy the 24th position in the FIBA ​​ranking, were able to face them in their first World Cup match (although Czechoslovakia participated in four editions from 1970 to 1982). [Narration and statistics]

The coach Gregg Popovich , heir to the legendary Mike Krzyzewski and one of the most prestigious coaches in the NBA (five rings with the San Antonio Spurs), opted for an initial quintet formed by Harrison Barnes, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Myles Turner and Kemba Walker After a triple of Tatum and two other points of the new base of the Boston Celtics (Walker) and without taking even three minutes on the track, Walker gave way to Jaylen Brown and Barnes to Marcus Smart.

Despite the strong start of the Americans, who have the pressure to revalidate the title of champions they have held since 2010 in Turkey (plus 2014 in Spain), the Czechs counterattacked and managed to first equalize the score to seven, with a 2 + 1 base of the Chicago Bulls Tomas Satoranksy. And, later, to advance them to have a three-point advantage, thanks in part to the little success of the Americans .

Again on the track, the Sacramento Kings forward Barnes woke up scoring four consecutive points to the team led by Ronen Ginzburg who returned the lead to the Popovich team. The first quarter ended with a US advantage of 17-14 and in the second the Americans began pushing and expanding their income, thanks to good performances such as Walker (4 points in the partial) or Jayson Tatum, who achieved three rebounds and seven points in this partial. The good performance of Satoransky (5 points in the partial) and also of the forward Vojtech Hruban (4 points) did not prevent the Americans from increasing their advantage until closing the quarter at 43-29.

Take off after the break

After the break, the Czech Republic did not throw in the towel and started scoring its first points Jaromir Bohacik, followed by Walker. Minutes of boredom followed and lack of success in basket on both teams and, although the Czech Republic seemed to recover the verve with several points to remember as the triple of Bohacik, which made him reduce his disadvantage, the United States continued to defend his status and accumulate triple points by Joe Harris and Harrison Barnes, until closing the third quarter with 66-48 .

He started the last quarter with several points from the Czechs but a triple from Walker, who finished the game with 13 points, and another triple from Donovan Mitchell, who managed to be the top American scorer with 16 points and also the player who stayed the most minutes in Clue (25), certified the broad victory of the Americans.

Bohacik managed another triple in the final minutes of the game that confirmed him as one of the most outstanding figures of his team (13 points and 9 rebounds), along with Satoransky (17 points), which was on track about 30 minutes. With little time or strength for surprises, the United States ended the game winning 88-67 and is already waiting for its next opponent, Turkey, which on Saturday beat Japan.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports
  • basketball
  • Basketball World Cup 2019
  • United States Basketball Team

China WorldCarmelo Anthony, with no hole in the NBA and not in the US team

Basketball Juancho Hernangómez, the joy of the national team: "Sometimes they keep me quiet"

Basketball World Cup Marvin Bagley also clears the US team for the World Cup