Once again, the United States will leave the World Cup without the gold medal. Beaten 113-111 by Germany, the Americans will play the “small final” against Canada on Sunday, and it makes sense. Like Lithuania, Germany exploded the American defense, and despite a big scare, Daniel Theis and his teammates remain undefeated and their place in the final against Serbia is deserved!
In the middle, Dennis Schroder has a lot to make up for, and he ignites the room from the start with a “Ginobili” pass for Daniel Theis, and Germany gets the best start (7-2). The alternation of inside play – outside play traps the Americans, and Voigtmann goes for the basket with the mistake (9-4). Well separated, the Germans hamper the American defense, and Franz Wagner goes for a dunk to cause Steve Kerr’s first timeout (14-9). Once again, Jaren Jackson Jr is in difficulty, and the Germans escape (25-15) with some very good basketball.
On the American side, only Mikal Bridges and Anthony Edwards are level and they limit the damage (25-20). It’s less fluid but it allows us not to sink, and even to get back on track (29-26). The United States plays well (no lost balls in 10 minutes!), with the desire to pass and they are rewarded. Their all-terrain zone slows down the Germans’ ball rush, and Austin Reaves takes advantage of this in the transition to equalize (29-29). With two shots, the Germans regained control at the end of the quarter (33-31).
A half-time points record: 119 points accumulated!
The level of play does not weaken, and Franz Wagner and Reaves challenge each other at 3-points (36-36). It is Edwards who decides between them to give the advantage to the Americans (39-36). It’s a first in the match, and Steve Kerr’s players insist on leading 45-41. Except that the Germans respond with a 9-0! Physically, the Germans held their own with Theis on the tap and Franz Wagner who stormed in on the counterattack (52-48). As we go blow for blow, the Edwards-Haliburton duo takes the match on their own, and the United States goes back in front at halftime (60-59).
Team USA comes back with a zone defense which is immediately punished by Theis, then Wagner in the corner. Germany takes control again and takes advantage of American stray balls to widen the gap (70-64). After three minutes, Team USA still hasn’t had a shot in the quarter! Haliburton and Edwards unlock the counter, but Schroder punishes them from 9 meters (76-68). As in the first half, the Americans struggled with rebounding, and the Germans flirted with a 10-point lead thanks to the amazing Andreas Obst (89-80). 90 seconds from the end of 3e quarter-time, Team USA is on the verge of collapse, and the disappearance of Bridges weighs. Fortunately Bobby Portis saves the furniture because the gap could be bigger (94-84).
The Reaves-Edwards duo maintains the suspense
Team USA has 10 minutes to go up 10 points and save its skin. And it starts badly with Obst’s free throws (96-84). The American defense is still not there, and the Americans stubbornly think that they will make the difference with their attack (102-92). Jalen Brunson lacks support, and to make matters worse, they lose balls stupidly. Five minutes from the end, Germany has one foot in the final because the gap stabilizes at 10 points and Schroder begins to run the clock (106-96). Except that Reaves plants an “ave maria” 3-pointer and Team USA relaunches with an exceptional Edwards!!!
At the start of money time, Team USA was only 3 points behind (106-103), and it was Reaves who brought the United States back to one point (108-107). There are 90 seconds left, and Germany pulls out all the stops: Obst and Schroder with 3-pointers and Bonga on the counter to restore the lead to four points (113-109). There are 33 seconds left. Who will break? It’s Edwards who sends a ball into the stands while everyone saw him rise to the shot. The heads are low on the American side, and they forget to make a mistake in the last seconds to finally fail by two small points (113-111)!
