CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The U.S. men's basketball team scored another win in its final game in group play at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, defeating Puerto Rico 104-83.
Team USA was led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 26 points in the victory. Charlotte native Steph Curry's offensive struggles continued, as he scored just 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting. North Carolina's Bam Adebayo, fresh off a monster game against South Sudan, had a mostly quiet game with just 3 points.
Puerto Rico opened the game strong and led at the end of the first quarter. That's when the Americans flipped the switch, outscoring Puerto Rico by 23 points in the second frame. The rout was on from there as the U.S. also won the third quarter by 9 points. Six U.S. players reached double figures, led by Edwards' 26 points.
With the win, Team USA locked up the No. 1 seed in the Olympics knockout tournament that begins Tuesday.
Saturday's game had no bearing on knockout play for either team, as Puerto Rico was already out of contention while the United States was locked into the quarterfinals. Other teams advancing to the quarterfinals are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France and Germany.
The knockout round begins with eight teams in the quarterfinals. Most of the matchups will be determined at random, but there are two key rules. First, the two highest-ranked teams will be on opposite sides of the bracket, avoiding a potential matchup in the semifinal should they both win in the quarterfinals. Also, teams from the same group can't face each other in the quarterfinals, meaning Team USA cannot face Serbia or South Sudan in the opening round of knockout play.
How Steph Curry made it to the Olympics
The four-time NBA champion is no stranger to Team USA, but Paris marks the first time he's been in the Olympics. Curry opted out of the Rio and Tokyo Games, but was selected for the 2024 roster. He led the U.S. to FIBA world championships in 2010 and 2014.
The Paris Olympics could be the last time NBA stars from Curry's era play for the U.S., including Kevin Durant and LeBron James, who said the Paris Games will be his final Olympics.
Who could challenge the U.S. for Olympic gold?
The Americans are seeking a historic fifth consecutive gold medal, dating back to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Canada could be the biggest challenger in the tournament. Making its first appearance in the Olympics since 2000, Canada has several top NBA stars, including Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver's Jamal Murray.
Canada's lack of size could be a tough hurdle to clear, but Gilgeous-Alexander, Dillon Brooks and Murray have the shooting to keep it close to anyone in the world. The Canadian team also finished group play undefeated after beating Spain on Friday.
You also can't look past the home team. France, led by the incredible Victor Wembanyama, does have its limitations, especially scoring. But with Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert protecting the rim, France's defense could be enough to win a gold medal on its own.
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