USA vs. Puerto Rico: Score and Reaction from 2015 Pan Am Games

After squashing Venezuela, 85-62, in its Pan Am Games opener, the United States used a flurry of threes and a major size advantage to down Puerto Rico, 102-70. 

When all was said and done, Mark Few's side shot 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from three en route to a second-straight win, while outrebounding the defending Pan Am champs 53-39. The U.S. also moved the ball at a far more proficient rate, tallying a 20-8 edge in assists. 

With the win, the United States clinched a spot in the semifinals, which will take place Friday. However, the Red, White and Blue still need to wrap up round-robin play with a showdown against the highly touted Brazilians Thursday evening.   

The U.S. outscored Puerto Rico 36-10 in the second quarter, and a comfortable 36-point cushion entering the game's final 20 minutes gave the Americans all of the confidence they needed to close things out. Over the third and fourth quarters, the U.S. cruised despite getting outscored 41-37 during that span.  

All told, four USA players finished in double figures, including Bobby Brown, Damien Wilkins, Denzel Valentine and Taurean Prince. Brown topped the charts with 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting from three while Valentine and Wilkins each chipped in 15. Prince, the Baylor standout, added 10 points and two boards. 

Conversely, Puerto Rico shot 30 percent from the field and 11 percent (3-of-27) from three, and Javier Mojica led the way with 15 points.  

The United States took a few minutes to get going, but once they realized their size advantage down low, things opened up.

Playing an inside-outside game headed by Brown, Wilkins and Maryland's Melo Trimble, the U.S. built a nine-point lead after the opening frame. 

Although he's just 20 years old entering his sophomore season at the University of Maryland, Trimble is seeking to make a name for himself on the international stage. 

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

And after struggling to the tune of five points in Team USA's thrashing of Venezuela, Trimble appeared poised in the early going. His calm demeanor in a backup point guard role helped push the Americans' lead to as much as 12 before a buzzer-beating three from Puerto Rico capped off the first quarter. 

The Baltimore Sun's Don Markus chimed in with observations regarding Trimble's play: 

"Being the youngest, they’re teaching me a lot," Trimble said of his teammates, according to the Washington Post's Roman Stubbs. "I'm just learning."

Trimble—who trained with Golden State Warriors point guard and reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry over the summer, per Stubbs—still has room to grow as distributor and full-fledged playmaker, but his raw chops were on display Wednesday.

While Puerto Rico has struggled on the Pan Am hardwood, Dallas Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea heaped praise on head coach Rick Pitino prior to Wednesday's clash.

"The players love him," Barea said, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman. "He brings passion and a new system." 

Like Pitino's Louisville teams, the Puerto Ricans ran a 2-3 matchup zone. However, the Americans were able to solve it relatively quickly thanks to confident outside shooters and sneaky back-cuts that exposed holes in the scheme.  

Team USA has flashed offensive prowess in all phases through two games, but based on past results, it would be foolish to think Few's boys are the undisputed favorites moving forward. 

Dating back to 1983, the U.S. hasn't finished better than second in men's basketball at the Pan Am Games, and a third-place finish in 2011 continues to loom large as a reminder of the team's recent failures. 

A date with a Brazilian side boasting a a 24-point average margin of victory through two round-robin games will provide a nice tuneup for the U.S. ahead of elimination play, but the South American side shouldn't be taken lightly as the Americans eye a return to the gold-medal podium.