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FIBA: Anthony Edwards challenges Team USA to play with more physicality

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Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Anthony Edwards at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup on September 1, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/09/01/20230901-fiba-usa-montenegro-md-2-5.jpg"/><figcaption>Anthony Edwards at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup on September 1, 2023. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Team USA got their toughest win so far at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/01/23/team-usa-survives-montenegro-for-fourth-straight-win">FIBA: Team USA survives Montenegro for fourth straight win</a></li></ul><p>After winning by an average margin of 34.3 points in all their first-round victories, the Americans barely escaped Nikola Vucevic and Montenegro, settling for an 85-73 victory when the final buzzer sounded during their matchup on Friday. </p><p>Still, Anthony Edwards, who top-scored for their squad with 17 points alongside three rebounds and two steals, deemed the win vital as they face stronger opponents with the tournament progressing. </p><p>“It was super important, man,” Edwards said on pulling off the win. </p><p>“These guys, they were a tough team. They played super physical, and we didn’t come out ready to play,” he said. </p><p>Team USA, for the first time in the tournament, were behind during half time, and were only up by six points heading into the final frame. </p><p>Edwards took accountability for this, admitting that before he took over in the second half, he got gun-shy after missing a couple of his shots in the first 20 minutes of action.</p><p>“It’s just a confidence thing. I felt like I let my team down, [I was] not being aggressive, [I] stopped shooting the ball after I went zero-for-five, just things that I don’t normally do. I had to get myself going,” he said.</p><p>Fortunately for Team USA, Austin Reaves, Jaren Jackson Jr., Tyrese Haliburton, and the rest of their second unit came to their aid once more.</p><p>“Our second group once again came for us and lifted us to the win so kudos to them,” he said.</p><p>Reaves finished with 12 points, two rebounds, and two assists, while Jackson Jr. and Haliburton finished with 11 and 10, respectively. Mikal Bridges also scored in double digits with 10.</p><p>Still, Edwards is aware that Team USA must dial up their efforts, especially in the rebounding department where they suffered a 49-31 disadvantage. </p><p>“We just got to be more physical, I got to be more physical, but I feel we did a pretty good job. We just have to be more physical, get a little stronger,” the Minnesota Timberwolves star said.</p><p>He also mirrored his statements on that topic since they are once again against a massive frontline in Lithuania that features a familiar foe in Jonas Valanciunas.</p><p>“We know they’re gonna be super physical, so just got to match that physicality. That’s the main thing.”</p><div><strong> For more stories on the FIBA World Cup, click <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/fibaworldcup2023">here</a>.</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2786749" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

FIBA: Anthony Edwards challenges Team USA to play with more physicality

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FIBA: Anthony Edwards challenges Team USA to play with more physicality

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 01, 2023 07:57 PM PHT

|

Updated September 01, 2023 08:52 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

FIBA

FIBA World Cup

Team USA

Lithuania

Jonas Valanciunas

Anthony Edwards

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