Before the semifinals, the dream matchup for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was an all-North American final between the USA and Canada.
However, Serbia dismantled those expectations on early Friday evening, while Germany completely shattered them.
Just hours after the Eagles booted out the Road Warriors, the Mannschaft ousted Team USA, 113-111, to remain undefeated and advance to the gold medal match of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 at the SM Mall of Asia.
Germany, who made its first-ever final in the sports’ pinnacle event, will face powerhouse Serbia on Sunday.
“One more to go. We’ll enjoy this a little bit tonight and prepare for Sunday,” said Germany head coach Gordie Herbert.
Clinical were the Germans to start the game, controlling the tempo, knocking timely threes, and winning the board battle to keep USA at bay.
But of course, the talent-rich Team USA would have one spirited rally in them. Yet, the Germans went right at the face of what usually means death in global basketball and survived it.
Germany led by as much as 12 points in the fourth quarter, but a late surge led by Austin Reaves and Anthony Edwards, who scored the Americans’ last 17 points, brought Team USA within one, 108-107, with 1:35 remaining.
Andreas Obst, a cold-blooded German assassin, drilled a crucial three-pointer before Dennis Schroder hit a step-back jumper to help Germany secure its seventh consecutive win in the tournament.
“It’s a special group. Just the way we played, the way we played together, we stuck together at different times when things got tough. We had some players who made some huge plays,” said Herbert.
Obst dropped a game-high 24 points on four triples while Franz Wagner and Daniel Theis delivered 22 and 21 points, respectively.
All three players joined Germany legend Dirk Nowitzki as the only players to score 20 or more points against Team USA.
Schroder, the heart and soul of the German side, produced 17 points and nine assists.
It was an offensive clinic given by Germany in this high-scoring affair, shooting 57.7-percent from the field — knocking down 13 of their 30 three-point attempts — while also grabbing 12 offensive boards that led to a whopping 25 second chance points.
The 113 points scored by Germany is the most given up by any Team USA in the global conclave.
“Congrats to Germany. They were fantastic. They deserved the win. Every time we made a run, they hit a big shot, got an offensive board, had a big play,” said Team USA head coach Steve Kerr.
“I’m really proud of our guys. They were courageous throughout the game and gave themselves a chance down the stretch. We just couldn’t get there in the end,” the decorated NBA champion coach continued.
On the other hand, Edwards paced the Americans with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Reaves had 21 points.
Team USA missed the services of Brandon Ingram, who is out with an upper respiratory illness.
And yes, the all-North America showdown will only happen in the third place game prior to the all-European finale.
Still, Team USA will finish the tournament higher than their seventh place finish in China four years ago.
The Scores:
Germany 113 – Obst 24, Wagner F. 22, Theis 21, Schroder 17, Thiemann 10, Wagner M. 10, Voigtmann 6, Bonga 3, Lo 0, GIffey 0.
USA 111 – Edwards 23, Reaves 21, Bridges 17, Brunson 15, Hart 9, Jackson Jr. 8, Haliburton 7, Banchero 6, Portis Jr. 5, Johnson 0.
Quarterscores: 33-31; 59-60; 94-84; 113-111
