The men’s Olympic team in the 3×3 competition recorded its second win of the day with a 21-17 victory over China on Friday. Team USA came into the day needing to win its final three games in pool play to have a chance of medaling. It did so, even without sharpshooter Jimmer Fredette, who missed his third consecutive game due to a lower-extremity injury.
Canyon Barry scored a team-high 14 points for the Americans after having a 15-point outburst in a win over France earlier in the day. Barry knocked down a game-sealing 2-pointer to give Team USA its second consecutive win. Barry shot an impressive 4 of 7 from 2-point range and scored the game-sealing basket on a turnaround jumper to seal the comeback victory over France.
As a team, the Americans struggled on shots from beyond the arc and finished only 4 of 12 after connecting on over 45% of their attempts against France.
The Americans’ final game of pool play is scheduled for Aug. 4 at 1:05 p.m. ET vs. the Netherlands.
3×3 basketball rules explained
This event has a different set of rules than the traditional five-on-five format basketball fans are accustomed to. This style of basketball is played in a half-court setting with a 12-second shot clock. Field goals are worth one point or two points if the shot is from behind the arc, and there is not an inbounds pass after a made basket.
The game starts with a coin toss, and the winner gets to choose whether to begin the game on offense or defense.
Possession switches between teams after every made basket — no matter if the shot is made or missed. Once a player takes control of the ball inside the arc, they have to dribble it out or pass it to another player outside of the arc before they can attempt a shot.
The team that reaches 21 points first or scores the most points after a single 10-minute period wins. If the game is tied after the period ends, the team that scores two…
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