Cuba 64 vs 87 United States summary: stats and highlights | FIBA Qualifiers Americas
The United States are on to the next round of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers after winning Group D with 13 points after six games. Xavier Munford set the tone early for the US scoring 24 points in the 87-64 victory.
USA pull away from Cuba early
The Americans came into the night knowing they could close out the first round of group stage action in the qualifiers at the top of the standings with a win on Monday night. Cuba on the other hand, hadn’t won a game and was looking for a bit of consolation after getting eliminated earlier in the tournament.
The game between these two teams was much closer, but Team USA used a strong last three quarters to pull away from the Cubans and still to victory.
Cuba looked good, as they often have throughout the tournament, in the first quarter. They defended well, hit the boards hard and had a 16-14 lead after the first ten minutes of play in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Munford makes it happen
Xavier Munford and the rest of Team USA responded quickly with a 14-2 run to start the second quarter, and didn’t look back from that point on. The lead crept up to 14 points in the second quarter, and even though there was a mini Cuba run right before halftime the US had the last placed team in Group D at an arms length the entire second half.
Munford and Justin Jackson carried the US the rest of the way as the lead stretched to over 20 points, and Cuba’s offensive sets came to a stutter.
Despite a cold start to the game, the US ended the night shooting 50% from the field and hitting 12 of their 35 three point attempts. Cuba struggled from the field but kept themselves in the game for most of the first half with some fantastic rebounding. Yoel Cubilla and Jasiel Rivero helped the Cubans win the battle of the boards 45-37 while Cuba held the edge on the offensive boards 18-10.
USA joins Mexico and Puerto Rico in next round
The rebounding dominance wouldn’t be enough to knock off the US, as the lead remained around 20 until the end of the game. The US joins Mexico and Puerto Rico, from Group D, in the second round of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Everyone expects the US to make the World Cup which will be held in 2023, but they will have to do it against a tough field of up and coming teams from North and South America.
Team US is on to the next phase of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers with resounding win over Cuba in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Xavier Munford ended the game with 24 points off the bench to lead Team USA to the easy victory.
Bell took it all on his own this time as the lane opened up.
Bell with another feed, this time to Jenkins in the corner for three.
Cook got the easy lay up in transition off the Bell feed. Team USA was running and gunning in transition all night long.
Xavier Munford ends his night as the leading scorer with 24 points off the bench. Justin Jackson had 13 points going 3/9 from three point range.
Yoel Cubilla had a team high 15 points and 9 rebounds for Cuba while Yoran Polas had 12.
It's all over! The US finishes the first round of Qualifiers as the Group D winners, while Cuba finish their Qualifiers without a win.
Daivs with the last bucket of the game!
Jefferies driving the baseline and drops a tomahawk jam.
Polas back underneath and get drops the lay up.
David down low gets the bucket to go.
Polas gets the and one on the drive and he gets the FT to go.
Jefferies to the line and he hits one of two.
Bell with a behind the back pass to Jeffries.
Cubilla gets the tip in off the miss.
Munford off of one foot with the off balance leaner in the paint. He's got 24 on the night.
Galloway pops the jumper from the elbow
Cubilla down low off the slip pass across the paint from Rivero.
Jenkins in the corner off the offensive rebound and kick out and he drops it.
Munford from the FT line hits the jumper in transition.
Cario drops a long to and he's had a nice night tonight.
Cairo answers back with a quick hitter.
Beautiful finish by Munford off the glass.
Guzman pulls up from the elbow and hits.
We are at the end of the third quarter and the US has a commanding lead over the Cubans.
Munford sticks a three ball with a hand in his face!
Polas in transition takes a stong dribble toward the basket and gets it to go.
Cook with the midrange jumper off the dribble.
Guzman to the line and he hits two of two.
King with the catch and shoot from long range and the lead is up to 17.
Cubilla in the lane with the jump hook.
Cook open for three and open for buisness from the corner!
Demps gets the mid range jumper to go and the Cubans want a time out with 4:16 to go in the third quarter.
Galloway on the back door cut gets an easy lay up off the beautiful feed.
Cubilla hitting the offensive boards hard and gets the put back.
Jackson on the drive and lay up.
Rivero to the line and he hits two of two. We are back to a single digit deficit.
Galloway to the line where he hits one of two.
Cubilla drains a three ball from the top of the key and we are back to a 10 point game.
Casero hits the jumper over a defender and he's got a couple straight baskets. He's got 10 on the night.
Guzman to the line and he hits both FTs.
Davis off the feed from Galloway gets an easy lay up off some good ball movement.
Casero walks down main street and gets the easy bucket.
Three ball from Jackson and he's got five quick points out of the break!
Jackson gets the floater in the lane to go for the first points of the second half.
The second half is underway from Mexico and the US has 20 more minutes to hold off Cuba to win Group D.
Bell said, enough of sharing the ball, I'm taking this on my own.
Bell found Jenkins in the corner for three, and the Big man is showing some great vision from down low.
Cook and the rest of Team USA got out in transition and found some easy buckets in the first half.
The US took control of the game in the second quarter with a 14-2 run after the change of quarter.
Cuba is staying in this game because of thier dominance on the boards. They have 24 to the US's 18.
Munford leads all scorers with 12. Casero and Cubilla have 6 for Cuba.
Jenkins beats the buzzer out of the timeout with a three ball and that will be the last bucket of the first half!
Coutin from the corner for three and Cuba are back from the dead!
Tip slam by Rivero gets this crowd in Chihuahua, Mexico off it's feet!
Bell had the seas part and took it strong to the rack for the slam.
Casero slashing to the rack and he gets the finger roll to go.
Galloway breaking away after yet another Cuba turnover and the US are punishing the Cubans everytime they shoot themselves in the foot with careless turnovers. Timeout Cuba with 4:30 to go in the second quarter.
Davis with a couple defenders blanketing him down low.
Davis down low off the feed from the perimeter. Everything is looking easy for the US right now.
Caser gets the friendly roll off the jumper and the US will take a timeout with 5:43 to go in the second quarter.
Jenkins in the corner for three off the Bell assist from the paint.
Polas in the corner for three! Much needed three ball out of the timeout for Cuba.
Jenkins from downtown!!! Timeout Cuba after a 14-2 run to start this second quarter.
Munford from downtown and that's 6 straight points!He's got 12 already
Munford penetrating off the dribble yet again and he gets the foul and one! FT is good.
Roque off the bench and using the board for his first bucket of the game
Cook drops it back to Bell who slams it home in transition.
Jackson from the top of the key out of the quarter change gives the US their first lead of the game.
That brings us to the end of the first quarter! Cuba jumped out of the gate early and hold that lead going into the second quarter leading 16-14.
Cuba has 13 rebounds to USA's 7. Neither team are shooting well from the field, USA is 6/17 while Cuba is 6/14 and 4/8 from the FT line.
Cubilla and Munford lead all scorers with 6 points.
Diaz answers back and give Cuba the lead again after a wild shot in traffic.
Munford takes his defender off the dribble and connects on the floater in the lane.
Munford strolls inside the paint for an easy lay up.
Cairo with a nice turn around jumper on the baseline.
Polas back and the line and again he hits just one of two. Cuba is shooting just 4/8 from the line.
Cook in the open after the steal and the long outlet pass which leads to an easy lay up.
Polas at the line and he hits one of two.
Jackson in the corner and he strings the three ball. He was the top scorer on Friday against Puerto Rico, and gets going after three missed FGs to start his night.
Rivero to the line where he hits one of two.
Munford pulls up from the elbow and that's just the second field goal for the US in the first five minutes and change.
Casero on the spot jumper just inside the line and look at Cuba out of the gates early.
Down low it's Cuba banging again with Cubilla.
In the corner for three the USA is on the board thanks to a Galloway long ball.
Cubilla with a couple of quick buckets and he's got his night off in nice fashion.
Rivero gets fouled on the jumper and makes one of one.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM MEXICO! Team USA with a chance to win the group with a win tonight.
Tonight's Odds
The United States come into tonight as a resounding 23.5 point favorite over Cuba with the Over/Under set at 160.5. This game was close earlier in the qualifiers, and while I do think the Cubans will come out with less desire and motivation, 23.5 points is a lot. Take Cuba with all those points.
World Cup 2023
The teams advancing to the second round of the qualifiers will now set their sights on the FIBA World Cup hosted in Philippines, Japan and Indonesia in 2023.
Who else is moving on to second round
Group A and Group B have already wrapped up with Venezuela (11 pts), Argentina (11 pts), and Panama (8 pts) having qualified in Group A and Brazil (11 pts), Uruguay (10 pts) and Colombia (8 pts) advancing from Group B.
Canada(10 pts), Dominican Republic (8 pts) and Bahamas (7 points) have all qualified to the next round despite having one game left to play in Group C. The same goes for The US (9 pts), Mexico (9 pts) and Puerto Rico (7 points) in Group D.
What’s needed on the last day
While Cuba already know their World Cup dreams end tonight, the US have their eyes set on the top spot in the group. They can secure Group D with a win tonight because they come into the the final game of this stage holding the tie break advantage over Mexico who are tied with the US at 9 points. Mexico played Puerto Rico in the other final match in this group. The Mexicans can take the first spot in the group with a win and a Cuba loss.
Justin Jackson makes Team USA debut
In his only qualifying game of this round, Justin Jackson put up 26 points and 6 rebounds against Puerto Rico on Friday. The former North Carolina Tar Heel is currently playing for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League after being named the co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Boys Game. Jackson last played regularly in the NBA back in the 2019-20 season with the Dallas Mavericks when he played 65 games for Rick Carlisle.
USA on top
The United States may not have any of the mainstream NBA names on their roster for qualifiers, but the boys playing for the star spangled banner are expected to finish on top of the group, and are a game away from achieving that. Their sole loss came to Mexico back in late November, when the US lost 97-88 in the same stadium they will play in tonight. Since then they have had convincing wins in each of their last three games, and will look to seal the deal tonight against Cuba.
Cuba winless in group stage
While Cuba played the United States close back in November, it has not been a kind qualifying journey since then. They have lost all five of their matches including their last match up on Friday against Mexico. They lost that game 75-66, to make it their fifth consecutive loss. The closes Cuba has come to winning a game is when they lost by three points to Puerto Rico.
Previous match up
These two teams last met back in late November and US narrowly edged past the Cubans in a 95-90 win from Chihuahua City. The Cuban side jumped out to a double digit lead after a 37 point explosion in the first quarter, but Isiah Thomas led the way that day with his 21 points on 7/20 field goals while Brian Bowen had 16 and 9 rebounds as the USA battled back for a 95-90 win.
We are live from Mexico
Hello everyone and welcome to La Habana for the final match day of the first round of qualifiers for the FIBA World Cup. The US come into the night tied with Mexico at nine points, and can secure the top spot in the Group with a win tonight. Cuba have nothing but pride to play for, and can take the role of spoilers by stripping the US of first place in the group by beating the red, white and blue on Independence Day.
Cuba vs. USA live
It’s consolation matchup in Group D as Cuba knows their their quest for the World Cup ends tonight once their game against USA wraps up and the first round of qualifiers comes to an end. AS English will be with you all night as the US seek to finish at the top of the group with a win.