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.
