The USA basketball team is on course for medals at the World Cup in Asia. Head coach Steve Kerr’s team won against Montenegro on Friday (September 1st, 2023) with 85:73 (37:38) and had problems at times for the first time in this tournament.
The top favorite won all nine games this summer, including preparation. Leaders Anthony Edwards (17 points) and Austin Reaves (12) stood out in a hard-fought win against a tough opponent.
Against Germany at the earliest in the semifinals
On Sunday, Kerr’s team will face co-favorite Lithuania at the end of the intermediate round. A duel between the USA and Germany can only occur in the semi-finals at the earliest. In preparation, the two teams met in Abu Dhabi at a show tournament. The USA turned a clear deficit and won with 99:91.
Spain also loses to Latvia
After France, defending champion Spain also stumbled over outsider Latvia at the Basketball World Cup. At the start of the intermediate round, the World and European Champion lost 69:74 (32:29) to the World Cup debutant after a very weak final quarter.
Both teams now have a record of 3:1 wins in Group L, as do their opponents Canada and Brazil. The Brazilians won their direct duel on Friday 68:65 (27:37), and 23 points from NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) could not prevent Canada’s first defeat.
The Spaniards, used to success, gave up the last ten minutes with 11:27, Latvia managed the second surprise. In the preliminary round, the team from the Baltic States had beaten the French (88:86) and thus dropped out of the race early in the fight for the final round in Manila/Philippines (from September 5).
Two high-profile finals in Group L
All teams in Group L are possible quarter-final opponents of the German team, which is still undefeated after four tournament games. The two finalists have to be determined in two ‘finals’: Brazil take on Latvia and Spain take on Canada in a thrilling group final.
The five-time world champion USA only beat Montenegro with difficulty 85:73 (37:38). Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) was the American’s best pitcher with 17 points, while NBA pro Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls was difficult to stop for Montenegro (18).
Meanwhile, superstar Luka Doncic is in the quarter-finals with Slovenia. The 2017 European champion defeated Australia on Okinawa 91:80 (49:40) and thus bought the ticket for Manila, the Olympic bronze medalist from Down Under is out. In Group K, the Slovenians and Germany, which had defeated Georgia 100:73 (43:41) a few hours earlier, can no longer be dislodged from the first two places with four wins each. Doncic scored 20 points against the Australians.