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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Guardian sport and agencies

USA tame New Zealand to open Fiba World Cup as Canada rout France

USA forward Paolo Banchero, left, became the youngest American to play at a World Cup in 17 years in Saturday’s win over New Zealand, scoring a game-high 21 points.
USA forward Paolo Banchero, left, became the youngest American to play at a World Cup in 17 years in Saturday’s win over New Zealand, scoring a game-high 21 points. Photograph: Michael Conroy/AP

Paolo Banchero scored 21 points off the bench, Anthony Edwards added 14 and the US shook off a slow start to beat New Zealand 99-72 on Saturday in the Fiba Basketball World Cup opener for both teams.

Jaren Jackson Jr and Austin Reaves each scored 12 for the Americans, who remained unbeaten in six games this summer – the first five of them exhibitions. This game was the first that counted for the Americans, who are trying to win the World Cup for the sixth time and erase the memory of finishing seventh in Fiba’s biggest tournament four years ago in China.

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