- USA shake off slow start and top New Zealand 99-72 in opener
- Canada rout France 95-65 in anticipated clash of contenders
Paolo Banchero scored 21 points off the bench, Anthony Edwards added 14 and the US shook off a slow start to beat New Zealand 99-72 on Saturday in the Fiba Basketball World Cup opener for both teams.
Jaren Jackson Jr and Austin Reaves each scored 12 for the Americans, who remained unbeaten in six games this summer – the first five of them exhibitions. This game was the first that counted for the Americans, who are trying to win the World Cup for the sixth time and erase the memory of finishing seventh in Fiba’s biggest tournament four years ago in China.
