Anthony Edwards erupts for 34 points as Team USA battles back from 16 to topple Germany

In the final game of the USA Basketball Showcase, a tune-up game against Germany, Team USA's unblemished record was looking shaky.

Then, Anthony Edwards stepped in.

Team USA faced a 16-point deficit late in the third quarter Sunday in Abu Dhabi but erupted in the fourth to topple Germany, 99-91. With the victory, Team USA concludes its five-game USAB World Cup exhibition tour with a perfect 5-0 mark.

Edwards, the 22-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves guard, went off for 34 points, six rebounds and two assists to lead the charge. He starred on defense as well, clamping up on players he was guarding, helping instigate a couple of steals late in the game and blocking a pair of shots. The rest of Team USA's starters posted a combined 25 points, nine fewer than Edwards.

"He's unquestionably the guy," Team USA coach Steve Kerr said after the game. "You can see he knows it. But now the team knows it and I think the fans see it.

"He genuinely believes he's the best player in the gym every single night. And he's such a dynamic young player. I think he's taking a leap."

With a little more than five minutes to play, Germany held an 86-80 lead before Edwards drilled a consecutive pair of three-pointers in the span of 40 seconds, tying the game. Edwards, who had appeared to roll his ankle minutes earlier when he came down awkwardly for a rebound, was then crucial for Team USA's defensive effort, holding Germany scoreless for a little more than six minutes in the final frame.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Team USA scored 18 unanswered points.

"Man, this was fun," Edwards said after the game. "I ain't have fun like this in a minute. So yeah, this was super exciting. We were down 15 so that was adversity."

Austin Reaves and Tyrese Haliburton each chipped in 16 points.

This completes USA Basketball's five-game tour in preparation for the World Cup. Team USA defeated Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Spain, Greece and Germany and will now play three World Cup group games in the Philippines. Team USA will face New Zealand on Aug. 26, followed by Greece (Aug. 28) and Jordan (Aug. 30).