After a competitive game against Turkey, Team USA had little issue dispatching New Zealand at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Tuesday. The Americans coasted to a 98-77 victory, moving to 3-0 in the tournament.
USA vs. New Zealand final score: Team USA wins, 98-71, behind big game from Anthony Davis
Davis and Kenneth Faried led the way once again as Team USA dominated New Zealand to move to 3-0 in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
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Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried played well once again, with Davis scoring 21 points and Faried pouring in 15. Faried led the team with 11 rebounds, while Davis grabbed nine boards. Both players got Team USA off to a fast start, throwing down monster alley-oops in the first quarter. First Davis (h/t to @gifdsports):
And then Faried (h/t to @Steve_OS):
New Zealand kept Team USA within striking distance early in the second quarter thanks to three straight three-pointers, but the Americans couldn’t be stopped and pulled ahead by 22 points at the half. Team USA shot a scorching 60.6 percent from the field in the first half.
James Harden kept things rolling at the start of the second half, dunking on Miko Vukona:
Team USA went up by 30 points in the third quarter before taking the foot off the gas pedal a bit and letting New Zealand creep back within 21 points by the end of the frame. But the outcome was never in doubt and once the starters were put back in to start the fourth quarter, the Americans opened the lead back up again.
Team USA faces the Dominican Republic at 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
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