USA 85-73 Montenegro: summary, score, highlights, FIBA Basketball World Cup
USA - Montenegro: FIBA Basketball World Cup, live online
Not a performance that Steve Kerr will remember fondly in years to come as his US team were given their toughest test in the 2023 FIBA World Cup to date as Montenegro pushed Team USA all the way.
Better retention of possession from the Balkan side may have led to a different outcome as Edwards and Brunson delivered their most discreet performances in Manila to date.
Nikola Vucevic was a constant threat for Montenegro with the Chicago Bulls player bagging 18 points in the game.
Full time.
US win but this was not an easy victory for Steve Kerr's tea,
Edwards with two, he moves to 17 for the game.
Time out called by Montenegro.
Jackson with a fine two pointer and 8 points is surely a bridge too far for Montenegro.
US lead by 6 points.
It feels that time is not on Montenegro's side with just two minutes left.
Time out called for Montenegro.
Reaves bags a triple at a critical time of the game
21 turnovers for Montenegro is a dramatic statistic and key to Balkan side's under doing today.
Less than five minutes and the US lead by five
Edwards with a triple... is that the basket that breaks Montenegro's resistance ?
Time out called with just over 6 minutes of the game remaining.
Seven minutes remain and Montenegro are still in contention.
Ivanovic sinks a triple and now just a 2 point lead for the USA.
US lead by 7 points now, their biggest lead all game and at such a critical time too.
Still just a six point lead for the US.
Montenegro missing their shots now and the US have sharpened their sights and are now hitting the basket.
Better quarter from the US but the Balkan side refuse to throw in the towel.
A defeat for Montenegro would end any chances of progressing to the quartefinals.
The US bag a two and get a foul as they hold a 6 point lead.
Into the final minute of the quarter.
The US still hold a five point lead.
Tyrese Haliburton with 3!
Montenegro now just trail by two points.
What a play from Perry as he surges at the net, the ball is tipped in and Montenegro win a free throw.
Both teams now starting to look just a little tired as the quarter draws to a close.
Cam Johnson the only US player yet to see any time on the court today.
Time out called and the US have a real battle on their hands today with Montenegro only appearing at the FIBA World Cup for the second time ever.
Perry with three.
US lead by one.
Less than four minutes left in the quarter and the US hold a four point lead.
Concentration levels key now as we hit a critical point of the game.
Better from Edwards as he delivers and his two pointer pushes the US in front again.
Ivanovic levels the game
Perry has impressed today as he sinks two.
The US reply with a triple to tie the game.
So, final words of advice from both coaches as Q3 is about to start.
Clock ticking down towards the start of the third quarter.
This has been far from convincing from both teams.
The USA have been poor in front of the basket and Montenegro have shown great grit and determination to stay in this contest despite continually turning possession over to the US.
Vukevic with 9 points is key to making Montenegro tick.
Reaves top shooter for the US with just 6 points.
Half time and Montenegro take the lead as Marko Simonović is under the rim to find the basket.
Focus key now for the Balkan team as Kessler misses two of the three free throws.
Unsportsmanlike foul called on Marko Simonović as he elbows Kessler.
Right on the buzzer for Perry.
Both teams have been far from their best today.
Montenegro have given the ball away far too much and the US have been poor in finishing.
Austin Reaves back on the court and his free throws put the US ahead again with just over two minutes remaining before the interval.
Key minutes for Montenegro now as we head towards the interval.
Montenegro really need a result here today given their one loss in the opening stage.
Still just points behind the USA.
Just over five minutes of the quarter remain.
Montenegro have been so sloppy with key passes. Time after time they have given possession away so cheaply.
You can get away with that against the likes of Mexico or Egypt but not against Team USA.
Kessler on the court now is in acres of space and hits his first points of the game.
Steve Kerr calls a time out
USA getting a groove together now and a key point of the game for Montenegro to maintain the focus.
Banchero slam dunks and now it's Montenegro's turn to miss some key baskets.
Two free throws for Bobby Portis and the NBA champion (with the Bucks) sinks one of the two.
A three for Vladimir Mihailović
Q2 is underway.
Despite trailing for the bulk of the quarter, Team USA are ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Haliburton sinks a triple and the US are back in contention.
Portis grabs a bucket and the US trail by one point.
Vucevic given a rest by the Montenegro coach.
Montenegro move back to a four point lead and both teams are playing a little sloppy.
Team USA missing easy baskets and Montenegro giving possession away oo easily.
Perry finds Vucevic an Montenegro take the lead again.
Austin Reaves on the court now.
Montenegro call a time out as the coach sees their lead slip.
Josh Hart ties the game
Another miss from Edwards just under the basket.
Ant man still not in the groove yet today.
Just five minutes of the quarter remain and the USA are starting to secure a footholding in the game as they traik now by 3 points.
Fine transition from the USA but Edwards misses the three pointer.
The US a little rusty in these opening minutes.
Montenegro streaking into a seven point lead.
Vucevic already with five points.
Surprising to see swathes of empty seats at the arena today!!!
The US are, at least on paper, one of the big draws of the tournament...
Montenegro win possession from the tip off
Off we go at the Mall of Asia Arena.
All set in Manila.
The teams take to the court... US are in all white with Montenegro in all red
Final prep for Team USA
The US team are on the court at the Mall of Asia Arena as we head closer to game time.
By the looks of things, the US will sport their change navy jersey today.
Last time out for Montenegro
Montenegro have played three games at the Basketball 2023 World Cup play (W, Mexico, 91-71; W, Egypt, 89-74; L, Lithuania, 91-71).
The Balkan nation are making just their second ever World Cup appearance.
US on fire in Jordan win
The U.S. never trailed in their 110-62 win as they crushed the Falcons in the previous gane.
The USA had their best opening quarter of the summer, topping Jordan 31-12.
Anthony Edwards led the USA with 22 points and eight rebounds in just 19 minutes. In the first half, Edwards scored 18 points and notched all eight of his rebounds. Josh Hart, who made his first start of the summer, led the U.S. on the boards with 12.
Today's game in Manila marks the first-ever men’s competition (at any level) between the United States and Montenegro.
Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson are Team USA's highest scoring players with both featuring in all three games in the opening stage and the Timberwolves player on 49 points as opposed to the 33 of Brunson.
Faces of concentration as USA arrive
Team USA have arrived at the Mall of Asia Arena as we head towards the start of the second stage of the competition.
Things heat up now and at this point of the Basketball World Cup, there are no easy games.
Perry out to test USA
Montenegro's Kendrick Perry was born in the USA and was drafted by Orlando Magic where he played a Summer League with the team from Florida.
A series of moves saw the player end up in montenegro where he became a naturalised citizen.
The 30-year-old currently plays for Unicaja in Spain.
Vučevič, the danger man
The Chicago Bulls pivot will be out to prove a point today as Team Montenegro face the might of the USA. Vucevic has played 84 minutes across the three opening games and bagged 62 points for the Balkan side.
Form guide for Montenegro:
August, 2023: Montenegro 71-91 Lithuania
August, 2023: Lithuania 96-66 Mexico
August, 2023: Egypt 67-93 Lithuania
August, 2023: Latvia 69-93 Lithuania
August, 2023: Lithuania 93-80 Puerto Rico
Form guide for USA
August, 2023: USA 110-62 Jordan
August, 2023: Greece 81-109 USA
August, 2023: USA 99-72 New Zealand
August, 2023: USA 99-91 Germany
August, 2023: USA 108-86 Greece
Montenegro out to shock USA
The side from the Balkans had a solid opening group and managed to beat Egypt and Mexico but lost against the highly fancied Lithuania side.
Nikola Vučević is their highest profile player and the pivot plays for Chicago Bulls.
All set for round two
The USA have been in dazzling form having little trouble in beating New Zealand, Greece and Jordan in their first round of games. Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson and in particular Austin Reaves have looked excellent with a team full of NBA pedigree.
How Group J looks
These are the four teams that compose Group J with all points accumulated from the first round carrying forward. Both USA and Lithuania are unbeaten and Steve Kerr's side will only face Montenegro and the Lithuanians before the top two sides advance to the quarter final stage.
Today's game between USA and Montenegro will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila with tip-off to get underway at 4.40 a.m. ET/ 1.40 a.m. PT.
Today's action sees Team USA face Montenegro in the second group before we head to the quarter final stage.
Hello and welcome to our live FIBA Basketball World Cup as the second stage gets underway and 16 teams are left in the hunt for the title.