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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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Minnesota Timberwolves All-NBA shooting guard Anthony Edwards had a night to remember in Paris, as USA Basketball rolled over yet another opponent, this time blowing out Team Puerto Rico 104-81.
Playing in his first Olympics, the 22-year-old phenom led Team USA in overall scoring with 26 points on a hyperefficient 11-of-15 shooting line. He got his offense from everywhere, alternately slashing inside while also nailing a flurry of wide-open triples, while hardly relaxing defensively. It was perhaps fortuitous that his spiritual predecessor,
Hall of Fame two-way shooting guard Dwyane Wade was on the call for NBC. It felt fitting that the three-time NBA champ got to guide viewers through his own next-generation iteration.
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In besting Team Puerto Rico by over five points, the undefeated Team USA (3-0) managed to secure the No. 1 overall seed heading into the knockout round of the men's basketball tournament.
During the game, sharpshooting All-Star Phoenix Suns power forward Kevin Durant, meanwhile, became Team USA's all-time leader in scoring and rebounding during the contest (per Stat Muse), knocking out 10-time All-Star and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony for the honor.
The 35-year-old finished with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor (including 3-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line). The two-time NBA champ also grabbed four rebounds, passed for three assists, and swiped one steal.
Puerto Rico actually stayed relatively even with Team USA until midway through the matchup's second quarter, when the Americans pulled away. Puerto Rico had eked out a 37-36 edge at the 5:45 mark, off a George Conditt IV layup.
But things were essentially uncompetitive after that. Team USA outscored Team Puerto Rico 28-8 to close out the half, thanks to a balanced offensive attack courtesy of Edwards, Durant, Anthony Davis, and starters Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and Stephen Curry.
The game was never close again.
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado led Team Puerto with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor (3-of-7 from long range), while also dishing out three assists, pulling down one rebound, and nabbing one steal in 22 minutes. Puerto Rico concludes its Olympic play with a 0-3 record.
Six Team USA players scored in double digits. Tatum had Team USA's lone double-double, notching 10 points and 10 rebounds, along with three assists and two steals. James scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 2-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe, while also chipping in eight assists, six rebounds, and one block.
Embiid notched 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor. Davis notched 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor and 4-of-4 shooting from the foul line, along with six rebounds and three dimes, plus two blocks.
Team USA outscored Team Puerto Rico in overall field goals (scoring 49.4 percent to Puerto Rico's 39.8 percent), 3-point efficiency (28.1 percent to 27 percent, both less than ideal), assists (30-20), and steals (10-4). Team USA also enjoyed a significant free throw shooting advantage, having connected on 15-of-20 foul line shots to Puerto Rico's 3-of-6.
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