Team USA secures late victory over Montenegro in FIBA World Cup
In the FIBA World Cup semifinals, Team USA faced a tough challenge against Germany, a team with a significant size advantage. Despite their efforts and a spirited game, the U.S. ultimately fell short, losing 113-111 to the Germans. This marks the second consecutive time that Team USA has missed out on the gold medal.
Germany’s dominance on the boards was a crucial factor in their victory, as they secured 12 offensive rebounds, leading to 25 second-chance points, compared to Team USA’s eight. Point guard Dennis Schroder played a pivotal role, exploiting the American defense with his passing skills. Combined with Germany’s height advantage, this led to high-percentage scoring opportunities that proved insurmountable.
The U.S. struggled with its smaller lineup, and defensive adjustments couldn’t counteract the size disadvantage. Germany capitalized on mismatches and scored 13 of 30 three-pointers, shooting an impressive 58% overall and accumulating 50 points in the paint.
Team USA’s roster also faced challenges, missing Brandon Ingram due to illness, which further limited their options. Despite a favorable draw in the tournament, the size differential proved too challenging to overcome.
In the end, the Americans will settle for a bronze medal game against Canada, while Germany advances to the finals. Team USA acknowledged that they fell short of expectations, emphasizing the pressure that comes with their basketball history.
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