Mexico remain undefeated, USA gained momentum in Group D

MIAMI (United States) – The FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers resumed on Thursday with the start of the second window. Both Mexico and the United States picked up victories in Group D.

Mexico defended their undefeated record after three games to remain the absolute leaders of the group, while USA improved their record to 2-1 and sit in second place.

Cuba 72 – 82 Mexico

Cuba and Mexico met in Group D action with Cuba playing host in La Habana at Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva. With the win, Mexico rose to 3-0 in Group D while Cuba is left searching for their first win and will have to go up against Puerto Rico on Sunday. Mexico looks to stay perfect in their USA rematch.

Both teams matched each other’s intensity to start the game, tying at 16 to end the first quarter and Mexico taking only a two-point lead entering halftime as each team shared possession during the half.

However, Mexico relied on key starters, like Gabriel Giron, who already had 15 points by the half including nine points from the three-point arc.

Daniel Amigo controlled the boards and had already recorded a double-double by the start of the fourth quarter while Cuba struggled to continue to share the scoring load -

Marcos Chacon and Karel Guzman both stepped up to assist Mensia and Rivero, but Mexico’s pressure proved to be too much.

Giron led all scorers with 23 points to end the game while Mendez finished with 19 points, while Paul Stoll added another 11 total for Mexico, while Fabian Jaimes also finished with 10 points.

Controlling a lot of the game, the downfall for Cuba was Mexico having two players combining for 42 of the teams 82 points that Cuba did not have an answer for, which offset a solid team effort from Cuba.

United States 93 – 76 Puerto Rico

It took them a half of basketball to warm up in chilly Washington, D.C., but once they did, the United States cruised to a comfortable 93-76 win over Puerto Rico (1-2) Thursday night to improve to 2-1 in Group D play of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Jim Boylen’s squad shot 13 of 34 from beyond the arc to put away the boricuas after Nelson Colón’s squad had taken a two-point lead at halftime. Matthew Ryan, Juwan Morgan and Justin Wright Foreman combined for 40 points off the bench, bringing their well-known firepower from downtown. The trio went 9/14 from long distance and helped the U.S. overcome a double-digit deficit in the first half.

Puerto Rico seemed to be in control early on at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in the American capital, riding the hot hands of Gary Browne and Javier Mojica to a 32-22 lead in the early stages of the second quarter. However, the offense – particularly from three-point territory – sputtered in the second half and the defense was overmatched, fouling their way to a 24-14 deficit in free throw attempts. Browne (16) and Mojica (18) were two of four Puerto Rican players (Jezreel De Jesús and Kevin Hernández had 10 apiece), but the bench just couldn’t keep pace with the depth of the U.S. reserves

The Americans had a 61-27 edge on top of leading scorer Joe Johnson’s 18 points and moved the ball better, finishing with 21 assists on 30 baskets (to Puerto Rico’s 15 in 30). Meanwhile, Jordan Bell did enough damage on the inside, pulling down eight rebounds and adding three steals and three blocked shots for the home team, who will face Mexico on Sunday. Puerto Rico will go up against winless Cuba.

FIBA