In a heart-pounding showdown of basketball prowess, Germany pulled off a jaw-dropping upset, defeating the United States by a narrow margin of 113-111. This thrilling victory has propelled Germany into the gold-medal match of the men’s basketball World Cup, where they will square off against a formidable Serbian team.
The heroics of Andreas Obst, who notched an impressive 24 points, and Franz Wagner, contributing a formidable 22 points, played a pivotal role in dismantling the staunch defense of the United States. For much of this high-intensity semifinal clash, Germany showcased their offensive prowess, leaving the US defense reeling in the face of their relentless assault.
As the clock ticked away, the US found themselves trailing by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter. However, displaying remarkable resilience and determination, they launched a spirited comeback, inching within one point on two separate occasions in the closing minutes. The audience held their collective breath, anticipating a miraculous turnaround. But it was not to be; Steve Kerr’s side never managed to seize the lead. Instead, it was Gordon Herbert’s jubilant players who embraced victory, celebrating with exuberant jumps and hugs as the final buzzer sounded.
Anthony Edwards emerged as a standout performer for the US, contributing 23 crucial points to the effort. Austin Reaves added 21 points, while Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson chipped in with 17 and 15 points, respectively. Despite the US’s impressive 58 percent shooting accuracy, they faltered in preventing Germany from matching their shooting prowess at the same 58 percent mark—an unforeseen twist that ultimately spelled their undoing.
Historically, Germany had struggled against the US in World Cup and Olympic competitions, amassing a record of 0-6 and often enduring lopsided defeats. However, on this electrifying occasion, the script was flipped. Even with a roster comprised exclusively of NBA talents, the US found themselves unable to secure victory at the World Cup.
The US’s previous World Cup appearance in 2019 saw them finish in seventh place in China. This time around, a third or fourth-place finish is technically an improvement, but it is clear that nothing less than a gold medal would have sufficed for USA Basketball.
In an earlier clash, Serbia overcame Canada with a score of 95-86 by imposing their dominance in the paint and controlling the battle on the boards. A quintet of Serbian players achieved double-digit scores, led by the stellar performance of Bogdan Bogdanovic, who registered 23 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Germany, the lone undefeated team in the tournament at 7-0, is now poised to face Serbia in a titanic battle for the World Cup title on Sunday at 12:40 GMT. Meanwhile, Canada will also contest for glory against the United States in the quest for the bronze medal, with their matchup scheduled for the same day at 08:40 GMT.
