USA's Kerr praises Montenegro on tough challenge

Team USA eked out an 85-73 win against Montenegro in the second round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Friday, the closest win they had in the tournament.

For USA head coach Steve Kerr, it was a welcome challenge for their squad.

"Great game for us. I thought Montenegro was fantastic. That's a really well-coached team," Kerr praising Montenegro said. "They had their game plan, everybody knew their roles."

Despite the close win, Kerr said he is proud of his players' efforts to get the win.

"These games are gonna happen and you have to be able to fight through them and I thought are guys did a great job of that."

USA head coach Steve Kerr says Montenegro team was fantastic, well-coached #FIBAWC @gmasportsph @gmanews pic.twitter.com/Kcq9Se8K5a

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) September 1, 2023

Tyrese Haliburton, meanwhile, said the challenge will help them in the future.

"Anytime we get a win it feels good. No matter how it looks or how it came, we just want to win games," he said.

"We want to take this experience, go from it, and use it moving forward when we face adversity we've never [been] before."

Montenegro coach Bosko Radovic also praised his team as they gave the United States a tough challenge.

"We played tonight maybe one of the best games ever and we played such a good and athletic team like the United States," he said.

Despite the loss, Montenegro coach Bosko Radovic said they had a good game against Team USA #FIBAWC @gmasportsph @gmanews pic.twitter.com/wpjfWqSA5K

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) September 1, 2023

The United States will face Lithuania in their next match in the second round.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News