The United States men’s basketball team had already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals, entering Saturday’s group play finale against Puerto Rico.
However, earning the top No. 1 overall seed in knockout play, which starts Tuesday in Paris, and facing the two No. 3 seeds, which the rankings will tell you are the less challenging opponents, still required a victory.
Jayson Tatum helped that cause by registering the first double-double of his Olympic career.
The five-time All-Star slid into the starting lineup in place of Jrue Holiday, downgraded from questionable to inactive due to an ankle injury he suffered in Team USA’s 103-86 win over South Sudan on Wednesday.
Tatum generated six points on 3/3 shooting in the game’s first seven minutes. He also swiped two steals, grabbed a pair of rebounds, and dished out an assist in his opening shift.
He entered halftime with eight points, converting on 4/5 field goal attempts and six rebounds, pacing all participants in that category. He also tacked on another assist and had a plus-12 plus-minus rating at the break, helping the U.S. take a 64-45 advantage into intermission.
Tatum finished with ten points, and his ten rebounds tied Puerto Rico’s Ismael Romero for a game-high. He also had three assists, two steals, and a plus-nine plus-minus rating as he helped Team USA apply the finishing touches to its dominant display on Saturday.
And while this was a quieter showing offensively for Derrick White, who, as he does with the Celtics, is shining in his role on a star-studded roster, the two-time All-Defensive Team selection had a steal and stonewalled a Jordan Howard drive before blocking his shot.
White also contributed two points, two assists, and a rebound in Team USA’s 104-83 victory against Puerto Rico.
