Myles Turner and Team USA to Face France in FIBA Quarterfinals!

If I am being honest, I have not paid much attention to the #FIBA World Cup. I will check the box scores every once in awhile to see how Myles Turner is doing on Team USA and how Domantas Sabonis is doing with Lithuania. I was hoping that the two would eventually meet and we would get to see Turner vs. Sabonis. Unfortunately that is not going to happen as Lithuania and Sabonis lost to France and are not moving on to the quarter finals. Sabonis did not play in Lithuania’s final game against the Dominican Republic.

Both are having a good tournament so far. Turner is averaging 8.4 points per game and eight rebounds per game through the first five games of the tournament. He is shooting fifty percent from the field and averaging 1.4 blocks per game. He had his best game of the tournament this morning when Team USA defeated Brazil 89-73. Turner had sixteen points on 8 of 11 shooting and owned Brazil in the post. He also had eight rebounds and two steals in twenty-one minutes. Team USA is undefeated as they head into the quarterfinals against France.

Pacers' Center Myles Turner playing in a game with Team USA this summer. Photo Courtesy of USA Basketball.

Sabonis played in four games and averaged 10.5 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game in 23.8 minutes per game. An area of concern for Sabonis was that he only shot 48.4% from the field. While I do not think that this is something that will happen in the NBA regular season for the #Pacers it is something to watch moving forward.

Pacers' Power Forward Domantas Sabonis dunking the ball in a game with Lithuania this summer. Photo Courtesy of ONE37pm.

I was looking forward to a Sabonis versus Turner matchup, but I think that it is better that it did not happen. People will not be able to call back to that game and yell about who played better, who should start, and who the Pacers should keep going forward. If you are wanting to watch Turner and Team USA take on France in the quarterfinals you can watch the game on ESPN+ on Wednesday September 11 at 9:00 am!