ABU DHABI: International Basketball Week and the US Basketball Showcase ended on Sunday night as the US men’s national team defeated Germany 99-91 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The US team concluded their preparations for the FIBA Men’s World Cup by battling back against Germany’s early advantage which saw the Europeans lead by as many as 16 points in the third quarter.
With Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers) and Austin Reaves (LA Lakers) helping their side claw their way back, it was Anthony Edwards who ultimately sealed the eight-point victory.
Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) fed off the energy of the fans to score two key three-pointers as the US team finished the game strongly.
For Germany, Dennis Schroder (Toronto Raptors) bagged 16 points, with fellow NBA star Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) contributing 17.
Edwards, who led all the scorers with 34 points, said at the finish: “This was the best game I’ve had so far.
“We were down 15 points in the third quarter; that got us closer as a team. This was fun, and it’s been a while since I had so much fun in a game.
“We had to face adversity and it was a fight for us. Tyrese Haliburton and Austin Reaves came big in the second half and the energy that came from them off the bench was much needed for us to win the game.”
Reaves said: “This was one of the most important games for us in preparation for the World Cup. We faced a talented team in Germany with them having many NBA players in the squad. This win felt good.”
The US triumph reinforces their status as favorites for the FIBA World Cup, which is due to take place in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
