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FIBA World Cup: Knicks' Brunson, Hart Triumph in Team USA Opener

New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were efficient in Team USA's FIBA Basketball World Cup-opening victory.

Geoff Magliocchetti

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Two New York Knicks and a little bit of Magic helped the United States' men's basketball team coast to victory in their first go at it in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Jalen Brunson scored 10 points to go with four assists and rebounds each while Josh Hart had five tallies and four boards en route to a 99-72 victory over New Zealand as Group C action got underway in Manila on Saturday. Newly-minted NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero (Orlando) came off the bench to steal the show, scoring 21 points on a 6-of-8 output from the field to help the young Americans recover from a slow start that saw them fall behind by as much as 10 in the early going.

Almost every major contributor for the Americans (1-0) made their senior team debut on Saturday in the name of helping the national team recover from a disappointing non-podium finish during the 2019 edition in China. Brunson was stationed in the starting five again and was one of six Americans in double-figures, with all but two of his eight points coming in the second half.

Elsewhere in Knicks affairs, Hart was one of the most efficient bench players in the tournament's debut stage, partaking in a defensive effort that allowed New Zealand (0-1) to shoot only 36 percent from the field. In the 15 minutes where Hart was on the floor, the Americans were a plus-28, the newest Knick's tally being the highest among USA-New Zealand participants.

Reuben Te Rangi led the Tall Blacks in defeat with 15 points. In other American statistical feats, Banchero was right behind at plus-22 when he was on the floor and was also responsible for four rejections. Another reserve, Austin Reaves (LA Lakers) had 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting and dished out a game-best six assists.

The Americans return to action in Group C against Greece on Monday morning (8:40 a.m. ET, ESPN2). It'll be a battle of group unbeatens as the Greeks prevailed 90-72 over Jordan in Saturday's tip-off in Manila. 

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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Geoff Magliocchetti
GEOFF MAGLIOCCHETTI

Editor-In-Chief at All Knicks

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