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Encountering the last undefeated team in this year’s 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup ended up being too much for Team USA as a loss in the semifinals dashed the country’s hopes of playing in the gold medal game.
Germany ousted the Americans, 113-111, Friday, Sept. 8 from the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Team USA falls short of the gold medal game in consecutive world cups and are still in search of its sixth opportunity at gold.
The country has not participated in the gold medal game since 2014.
With one more game to play in this year’s tournament, the red, white and blue are 5-2 through seven games. Fans will still be treated to the matchup of the U.S. versus Canada with a bronze medal at stake. Germany advances to take on Serbia for the gold medal.
Even with the loss in the semifinals, the Americans have already qualified for next year’s Olympics in Paris along with Canada, Germany, Serbia, France, Australia, South Sudan and Japan.
Team USA cut the deficit to within a point in the final 95 seconds but would never inch closer. In fact, Germany answered with a 5-0 run to regain control of the contest. The men’s national team trailed by 12 points in the fourth quarter, its largest of the game, before staging its comeback.
A 9-0 run heavily engineered by guard Anthony Edwards came with less than five minutes left in regulation as it turned out to still not be enough.
The game was tied at 64 apiece early in the third quarter before Germany manufactured a 6-0 run to take the lead for good. In that frame, the team put up 34 points, the most of any quarter on the day.
Before the end of the first quarter, Germany had built a double-digit lead over the United States. In an effort to battle back, the Americans went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 29-all.
After the first 10 minutes of play, Team USA had surrendered the most first quarter points it has all tournament long at 33 points versus 31 points of its own. In addition, Germany shot 64% from the field in the opening quarter against 55% on the other end for the red, white and blue.
While the U.S. pumped out its highest scoring first half of the summer, its defense allowed Germany to put up 60 points which easily became the most allowed in the first 20 minutes by the Americans.
Germany was aided by three 20-point scorers led by 24 points from guard Andreas Obst followed by 22 points from forward Franz Wagner and center Daniel Theis’ 21 points. Moreover, that trio shot 23-of-44 from the floor.
Edwards led the way for the United States with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting and eight rebounds. During that 9-0 fourth quarter run for Team USA, Edwards was responsible for six points during that stretch.
Reserve guard Austin Reaves erupted for 10 points in his first seven minutes of action after entering play averaging 11 points per contest. He’d finish with 21 points on 7-of-10 from the field as the lone bench player to reach double-figure scoring.
Starting forward Mikal Bridges scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting before being handcuffed in the second half by Germany. He’d pick up just two second half points on 1-for-2 from the floor.
Guard Jalen Brunson added 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting, becoming the final American in double-figures.
Despite the loss, Team USA shot 59% from the field which finished a percentage point higher than its opponent. In addition, both teams combined to shoot 25-of-55 from three-point range.
Though small, the differences for Germany came in the form of a +2 advantage in rebounding, a +6 advantage in points in the paint and a +4 edge in assists.