A pair of Knicks shot the European lights out Sunday to power their respective countries to key exhibition victories ahead of the FIBA World Cup later this month.
RJ Barrett missed just one of 14 field-goal attempts and scored 31 points in Team Canada’s overtime victory over Germany, and Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson shot a perfect 9-for-9 from the floor for 22 points to lead Team USA in a 98-88 victory over top-ranked Spain in Malaga.
The U.S. delivered the blowout victories that were expected in its first two “Showcase” exhibition games in preparation for the World Cup, but Sunday’s matchup expectedly was a much sterner test for Brunson and the American squad.
As the defending World Cup champs from 2019, Spain is considered to be the strongest challenger for the Steve Kerr-coached U.S. squad, although they are playing without longtime point guard and 12-year NBA veteran Ricky Rubio.
Brunson once again started in the backcourt alongside Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards.
Kerr has been going with Brunson over Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton in the first three exhibition games, although they also played together for stretches of Sunday’s victory.
“I think Jalen is such a natural leader,” Kerr told reporters last week. “Because he’s a point guard, he immediately comes to mind. He’s the one who’s leading the ‘1, 2, 3 USA’ chant. Some guys, it just comes naturally to them.”
Team USA, which trailed late in the third quarter before outscoring Spain 28-19 in the fourth, will play its final two exhibition tune-ups next week in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
The Americans will face Greece on Friday and Germany on Sunday before the World Cup opener on Aug. 26 versus New Zealand.
Nets forward Mikal Bridges (12 points) started alongside Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. and Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram in the frontcourt.
Knicks wing Josh Hart and Nets power forward Cam Johnson came off the bench as part of Kerr’s second unit.
Johnson nailed two key 3-pointers in the second quarter and another in the third, finishing with nine points, and Bridges netted five straight for the U.S. for a four-point lead early in the fourth.
Brunson also had found Bridges, his former NCAA championship teammate at Villanova, for a key 3-pointer late in the first half to help build a 10-point lead at intermission.
Brunson had 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting with three assists in the first two quarters.
Brunson had scored 11 points with eight assists in Saturday’s win over Slovenia, which played without his former Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic.
The $104 million point guard had posted a double-double, including 12 rebounds, in the Americans’ first exhibition victory last week against Puerto Rico.
“I have to be myself,” Brunson told reporters last week. “Don’t really step out of my shoes, just be myself and lead. You gotta lead by example, you gotta use your voice and you gotta know your audience.
“But I think most importantly what I’ve got from this group of guys … is that everyone’s willing to sacrifice. That’s what we need to win, and we have a lot of guys who are willing to do that.”
