Mikal Bridges scored 24 issues and Tyrese Haliburton added 18 off the bench as the USA routed Italy 100-63 on Tuesday to succeed in the semifinals of the FIBA International Cup in Manila, Philippines.
The U.S. was once coming off an disillusioned loss to Lithuania within the International Cup on Sunday. And even if that defeat did not affect the American citizens’ qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics — the USA and Canada will constitute the Americas area — trainer Steve Kerr’s workforce certainly took out a few of that frustration at the Italians.
Group USA subsequent will face the winner of Germany-Latvia, who play Wednesday, within the semifinals on Friday.
The American citizens, led by way of Bridges’ 14 first-half issues, took a 22-point lead into halftime.
Bridges added six rebounds, two steals and a block because the American citizens outrebounded Italy 51-33.
Kerr hired a halfcourt lure that stored the Italians off stability as they hit simply 30.7 p.c in their shot makes an attempt, together with 18.4 p.c from three-point vary.
“Simply an excellent defensive effort,” Kerr mentioned after the sport. “Our guys were given after it proper from the start, put power on and stored the power on. The following team got here in, did the similar factor, and it was once our highest defensive effort of the event so far. And that is the reason what it will take to win two extra video games.”
The American citizens, in contrast, shot 53.7 p.c from the sector, with a blistering 47.2 p.c from 3.
Bridges and Halliburton have been a mixed 14-of-20, together with 10-of-14 from lengthy vary.
Utah Jazz ahead Simone Fontecchio led Italy with 18 issues.
Austin Reaves added 12 for the USA.
—Box Stage Media
