After Saturday’s eventful games, the action on Sunday, August 28, 2023, for the 2023 FIBA World Cup was a little calmer. On that day, only two Minnesota Timberwolves stars saw action. In the remaining six games, we saw former 10-day contract signee Rondae Hollis-Jefferson go absolutely crazy for Team Jordan, channeling his inner Kobe Bryant and scoring 39 points on 50 percent shooting. We have to give that man props for the amazing game, even if in an overtime loss to Team New Zealand.
Speaking of current players on the roster, Li Kaier or 李凯尔 (a.k.a. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson), managed to get out of his shell for Team China’s second game of the competition. Anderson improved in every aspect of his game and led everyone in scoring with his 22 points. Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t enough to stop Team South Sudan’s extraordinarily efficient shooting as they defeated China 89-69
That loss eliminated Team China from advancing to the next round. Their final game will take place on August 30, 2023, at 7:00 am CT, against Team Puerto Rico. That game might decide Team Puerto Rico’s fate in this tournament.
Captain America is back to lead Team USA
As for the second game, the one people may have set their alarms to wake up to watch, Team USA competed head-to-head against a Teams Greece squad that was just coming off of a very convincing win against Team Jordan. Unfortunately for the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Greeks, the result wasn’t very convincing for them this time around.
Once more, the eternal favorites in these competitions, Team USA, did their thing and got themselves a win once again. A win and an alright game from the Minnesota Timberwolves’ very own international star shooting guard Anthony Edwards
Edwards struggled early on in the game, scoring just 13 points while also grabbing two rebounds and recording three assists. Shooting-wise, he did not have very good efficiency, either. But fear not, with the victory, the Americans are now officially qualified for the next round, which begins on the first day of September 2023. As of right now, Team USA will face the winner of tomorrow’s game between Nikola Vučević’s Team Montenegro and Jonas Valančiūnas’ Team Lithuania. In the group stage, one game is remaining, just for bragging rights, on Wednesday, August 30th, against Team Jordan (3:40 am CT).
Tomorrow we’ll recap the final set of group stage games for Matteo Spagnolo and Team Italy, in a must-win contest to qualify for advancing to the second round. They went up against Team Philippines (7:00 am CT)
Minnesota Timberwolves C/PF Karl-Anthony Towns and Team Dominican Republic faced off against Team Angola in an attempt to hold onto a first-place seeding of Group A (3:00 CT). Although both their teams’ fate is already decided, both Team Canada and Team France will play again tomorrow, with Nickeil Alexander Walker’s squad having played against a very strong Team Latvia, to see who ended up in first place of Group H (8:30 am CT). Likewise, Rudy Gobert and Team France matched up against Team Lebanon (4:45 am CT).