OTTAWA, Ontario — Team USA turned a one-point game late in the third quarter into a 69-44 win over Türkiye on Sept. 14 at TD Place, responding to its loss to Italy a day earlier with a defensive finish that created separation after another difficult offensive stretch.

The final margin did not reflect how tight the game became. Türkiye pulled within 38-37 with 3:36 remaining in the third quarter before the United States closed the game by outscoring Türkiye 31-7.

Jorge Salazar led Team USA with 24 points and eight rebounds while shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 6-of-7 at the free-throw line. Jake Williams added 22 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Brian Bell finished with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.

FIRST-QUARTER CONTROL

Türkiye scored first, but the United States quickly settled into the game. Williams tied it with a jumper before Bell and Salazar helped Team USA build an early advantage.

Salazar’s work around the paint and Williams’ shot-making pushed the lead to 17-8. Williams then converted a steal into a layup late in the quarter, and Team USA finished the opening 10 minutes ahead 22-10.

Türkiye cut into the margin during the second quarter. Bell, Salazar and Fabian Romo produced enough scoring to maintain control, with Romo’s layup in the final minute helping send Team USA into halftime with a 34-25 lead.

SECOND-HALF STALL

The third quarter changed the tone of the game.

Team USA went more than four minutes without scoring after halftime. Türkiye took advantage, scoring the first six points of the quarter to cut a nine-point halftime deficit to 34-31. Bell finally ended the U.S. drought with a jumper at the 5:57 mark.

Williams said the response during those stretches has to begin away from the offensive end.

“You got to make up for it on our defensive end,” Williams said. “Even when your shots aren’t falling, you got to still play good defense, and that’s how you got to create energy that way.”

Türkiye continued to press, eventually cutting the margin to 38-37. Williams answered with a jumper, Bell assisted Salazar for another basket, and Salazar added a free throw before Williams connected from three with 1:01 remaining. Team USA carried a 46-37 advantage into the fourth quarter.

FOURTH-QUARTER SEPARATION

The United States carried that momentum into the final period.

After Türkiye scored to make it 46-39, Salazar hit two free throws and Williams made a three-pointer. Salazar followed with another jumper before Trévon Jenifer turned a steal into a layup, extending the lead to 55-39 with 8:01 remaining.

Bell pushed the advantage to 57-39, completing a 19-2 U.S. run from the point Türkiye had pulled within one.

Team USA finished at 46.7 percent from the field despite making only 2-of-10 three-point attempts. The U.S. was considerably more effective inside the arc, converting 26-of-50 two-point attempts, and recorded 20 assists on 28 made field goals.

Defense provided the larger difference. Türkiye shot 36.7 percent and committed 21 turnovers, while Team USA recorded 10 steals and three blocks. Jenifer contributed four steals, and Bell finished with two blocks.

Williams said the close games have reinforced the importance of finding energy through defense and the bench when the offense stalls.

“If we go through a squirrely stretch, get our energy from the team defense and from our bench,” Williams said. “Our bench was awesome today, and our fans were awesome.”

For a U.S. team that has already been tested repeatedly in close games, the win provided a response to the loss to Italy while also showing how quickly defensive pressure can change a game when the offense loses its rhythm.