DALLAS — Although his national team has gotten off to just a 2-4 mark overall thus far in the FIBA Americas tournament, Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea has shouldered a heavy burden while putting the Puerto Rican squad on his back.
Capturing a 98-92 win Monday in Mexico City over the Dominican Republic, the Puerto Rican team secured its first win of the second phase of the tournament. Barea willingly led the way, tallying 37 points, seven rebounds and nine assists while pushing his teammates to a tightly-contested win.
Barea re-signed with the Mavericks this summer on a reported four-year deal worth $16 million after averaging 7.