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Barnes finishes with 10 points as USA survives Turkey in OT at FIBA World Cup

It hasn't been easy for USA Basketball
Gary A. Vasquez - USA TODAY Sports

It wasn't perfect, but USA moved to a perfect 2-0 in FIBA World Cup group play on Tuesday.

The Americans needed four big free throws to pull off the comeback victory, with Jayson Tatum hitting two at the end of regulation to force overtime followed by Khris Middleton sinking two in the final seconds of the extra period to lift USA to a 93-92 victory.

After Turkey took a 5-point lead in overtime, Kemba Walker helped lead USA's comeback, eventually taking a 91-89 lead before Cedi Osman converted a 3-point play to put Turkey back ahead.

On the ensuing possession, USA big man Myles Turner was stripped by Turkey's Dogus Balbay who missed both free throw attempts after a foul. After another USA miss, Osman went to the line and missed two more, setting up Middleton's go-ahead free throws.

Saddled with foul trouble all night in Shanghai, China, former Tar Heel Harrison Barnes finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes, going a perfect 5/5 at the free throw line while hitting 2 of 6 field goal attempts.

In USA's first game, an 88-67 victory over the Czech Republic on Sunday, Barnes finished with 14 points.

USA wraps up play in Group E on Thursday, when it meets Japan at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern) in a game that will air on ESPN+.

Second round play will begin Friday and run through Monday.

Playing without several NBA superstars, the Americans are seeking their third straight FIBA World Cup title after a third-place finish in 2006.

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