Chile vs USA

The game effectively ended in the first quarter. USA's 23-8 opening period — built on a 14-0 scoring run, the game's biggest — gave Terry Stotts' side a lead that stretched to as many as 24 points (USA's biggest lead of the night, compared to Chile's 4-point maximum advantage). USA led for 36 minutes and 13 seconds; Chile led for just 3:12. With only three lead changes all night, the outcome was never in doubt after the first 10 minutes.

Cole Swider (USA) — 23 points, Player of the Match. The Wake Forest product returned to USA Basketball for the first time since the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit and delivered a game-high scoring performance, shooting efficiently from the floor including from three-point range where USA connected at 47.8% as a team.

Fabian Martinez (Chile) — Game-high 15 efficiency. Chile's most effective player kept the scoreline respectable, but lacked the supporting cast to mount a serious challenge.

USA's three-point shooting — 47.8% (11+ made). The margin from beyond the arc was decisive: USA hit nearly half their threes while Chile managed just 18.9%. That 29-point gap from deep alone accounted for most of the final margin.

USA bench depth. Coach Terry Stotts, in his first assignment for USA Basketball per NBA.com, rotated through a 12-man roster featuring NBA G League and international experience. Multiple contributors beyond the starters sustained the intensity.

The FIBA boxscore shows a game defined by a single stat: USA shot 52% from the field to Chile's 38%, and a staggering 47.8% from three-point range compared to Chile's 18.9%. Despite Chile shooting 54.6% on two-point attempts (slightly better than USA's 53.7%), the three-point line created an insurmountable gap. Chile also shot a perfect 100% from the free-throw line but only attempted a handful of foul shots, reflecting their inability to draw contact in the paint against USA's size.

USA's 24-point biggest lead — compared to Chile's 4 — and dominance in time leading (36:13 to 3:12) underscore a wire-to-wire performance that the final 18-point margin actually flatters Chile slightly.

USA improved to 6-1 in World Cup qualifying, maintaining second place in Group E behind Brazil (6-0 entering their window 4 opener). The top three teams in Group E, plus the best fourth-place finisher across Groups E and F, qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Doha, Qatar. With five games remaining across Windows 4-6 (through February 2027), USA is well positioned for qualification.

Chile dropped to 2-5 in qualifying and sits sixth in the six-team Group E. Their path to a top-three finish is narrowing. They face a quick turnaround with another second-round game.

Both teams return to action on August 31: USA hosts Colombia in Washington, D.C., while Chile faces a must-win matchup away at Mexico.

USA did exactly what a 5-1 team should do against a 2-4 opponent: take control early and never let up. The three-point shooting disparity was the headline, but the defensive work — holding Chile to 38% shooting and dominating the glass — was equally important. For Stotts' first game in charge, this was a clean, professional performance against a limited Chilean side that simply lacked the firepower to stay within range.