Germany ahead Daniel Theis scores towards USA within the semi-finals of the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, Philippines. AP
Manila: There will likely be no gold medal for the US at this World Cup. And for the second consecutive time in FIBA’s greatest event, there won’t be any medal in any respect for the Individuals.
As an alternative, it’s Germany on the cusp of a world title.
Andreas Obst scored 24 factors, Franz Wagner added 22 and Germany shredded the US protection for a lot of the best way in its first win over the Individuals — 113-111 within the World Cup semi-finals on Friday night time.
Obst hit the shot of the night time, a 3-pointer with 1:15 left to place Germany up by 4 and nearly snuff out a last-ditch US rally. Germany led for 30 of the sport’s 40 minutes, the US led for about 4 1/2, and there was little query who was controlling play a lot of the best way.
“We knew the task at hand, and that was to go win,” US guard Austin Reaves mentioned. “And we didn’t do that.”
The US, down by 10 halfway via the fourth, practically pulled off a comeback, getting inside one level on two separate events within the remaining minutes. However the Individuals by no means acquired the lead, and it was the Germans leaping and hugging as time expired.
Germany — the final unbeaten staff left within the event at 7-0 — will play Serbia on Sunday (8:40 a.m. EDT) for the World Cup title. Serbia beat Canada within the first semi-final, attending to its second World Cup remaining within the final three tournaments; it misplaced 129-92 to the US within the 2014 championship sport.
Canada will play the US for bronze Sunday (4:40 a.m. EDT).
Anthony Edwards scored 23 factors for the US (5-2), which acquired 21 from Reaves, 17 from Mikal Bridges and 15 from Jalen Brunson. The Individuals shot 58 per cent — however let Germany shoot 58 per cent as effectively, and that was the final word undoing.
“If you give up 113 points in a 40-minute game, you’re not going to win many of those,” Reaves mentioned.
Germany had been 0-6 towards the Individuals in World Cup or Olympic competitors, normally getting blown out in these video games.
Not this time. As soon as once more, even bringing the one roster stuffed with all NBA gamers wasn’t sufficient for the US on the World Cup. The Individuals completed seventh on the 2019 World Cup in China; this end — third or fourth — will technically be higher, however nothing aside from gold was going to be passable for USA Basketball.
Daniel Theis had 21 factors for Germany. Theis has scored 21 or extra factors six occasions in his NBA profession — and picked Friday for one of many video games of his life.
A 35-24 third quarter was mainly the distinction for Germany, which this time completed the job that it couldn’t pull off when assembly the Individuals in Abu Dhabi for an exhibition earlier this summer time. Germany led that sport by 16 within the second half, then an 18-0 run by the Individuals down the stretch led to a 99-91 US win.
It wanted comparable heroics this time. They virtually acquired there. Key phrase: virtually. This time, Germany completed it off. And when it was over, Reaves couldn’t assist however see Schroder — his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers — enjoy an enormous second for German basketball.
“Tip your hat to him,” Reaves mentioned. “I know how special this moment is for him.”