Team USA Faces Tough Test Against Seeded Team Spain in FIBA Exhibition
Team USA Takes on Skilled Team Spain in Pre-FIBA Exhibition
Fresh off their commanding 92-62 victory over Team Slovenia, sans Luka Doncic, Team USA is ready to face a formidable challenge today. In a swift turnaround, they are geared up to lock horns with the only team ranked higher than them in the upcoming FIBA World Cup tournament: Team Spain.
In the previous warm-up match, Austin Reaves, the starting shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, showcased his prowess. Contributing off the bench, Reaves tallied an impressive 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists for Team USA.
The exciting clash is scheduled to tip off at 12:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted on Fox. Commentary will be provided by Bill Raftery, with Kevin Kugler handling the play-by-play, as confirmed by USA Basketball in an official press statement.
Curiously, Team Spain holds a higher seed than Team USA in the overall tournament ranking. However, it’s important to note that this friendly warm-up exhibition game will not hold any bearing on the final tournament outcome.
While the absence of former Lakers big men Pau and Marc Gasol is notable, Team Spain remains a formidable adversary. The squad boasts an impressive roster with seven players possessing NBA experience. The lineup includes former Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Alex Abrines, current Memphis Grizzlies power forward/center Santi Aldama, former Portland Trail Blazers combo forward Victor Claver, ex-Portland Trail Blazers wing Rudy Fernandez, Oklahoma City Thunder power forward/center Usman Garuba, seasoned NBA power forward and “Hustle” standout Juancho Hernangomez, and his brother Willy Hernangomez, a well-traveled NBA center.
Ricky Rubio was also part of the roster earlier, but he has taken a step back from the game to focus on his mental health and well-being. As the teams prepare for the FIBA World Cup, this intriguing warm-up exhibition promises to offer an exciting preview of the upcoming tournament dynamics.
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