Montenegro demonstrated to the United States that the competition is becoming more formidable.
They took the lead at halftime, but Anthony Edwards spearheaded a comeback for the United States in the second half, allowing them to maintain their flawless record in Manila.
Montenegro garnered admiration from the basketball community, given their spirited performance over 40 minutes.
Despite having a population of just 600,000, they remained resilient and left a lasting impact. The final score was 85-73 in favor of the United States.
The USA secured their spot in the Quarter-Finals when Lithuania defeated Greece in the group’s other game.
“Didn’t start the game the way we wanted to,” Tyrese Haliburton said. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we figured it out.
“Any time you win, you feel good about it, but we definitely want to go watch some film and see how we can get better and prepare for Lithuania.”
Watch the game highlights between the United States and Montenegro in the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
