Team USA crushes Jordan to sweep through World Cup pool play - ESPN

MANILA, Philippines — Team USA's Anthony Edwards and Jordan's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added some spice to a what otherwise would have been a low-drama game, staging an American playground-style duel that isn't normally seen at the FIBA World Cup.

The two shooting guards went back-and-forth racking up points and giving the crowd at Mall of Asia Arena something to pay attention to besides the score as Team USA won 110-62 on Wednesday to finish pool play 3-0.

The U.S. moves on to the World Cup's second round and will play Montenegro, which went 2-1 to advance out of its group, on Friday.

Edwards seemed to delight in the meeting with Hollis-Jefferson, the former NBA player who came in as the event's second-leading scorer and one of the happy stories of the first week. He matched up defensively with him and clearly had great bounce and energy.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star threw in several dunks, three 3-pointers and even a behind-the-back pass. Edwards finished with 22 points in 19 minutes and, illustrating just how much he was into the game, also had eight rebounds and four assists.

Edwards also fouled Hollis-Jefferson twice, which is something the 28-year-old has become an expert at while playing overseas the past two seasons. After drawing 15 fouls in a 39-point showing against New Zealand on Monday, Hollis-Jefferson drove, twisted and baited the U.S. into fouling him eight times in the first half alone.

Hollis-Jefferson finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds, though he was slowed after spraining his left ankle on a drive to the basket in the first half.

The matchup with Edwards was generally good natured — though there was a little talking between plays — as the two guarded each other for much of the time they were in