USA suffers 113-111 loss to Germany, ending gold hopes at Basketball World Cup

Germany upsets the US basketball team, defeating them 113-111 in the World Cup semifinals, leaving the US without a gold medal.

Germany emerged victorious in a stunning upset against the United States in the World Cup semifinals, securing a 113-111 win. The American team, featuring NBA players, fell short once again in FIBA's biggest tournament, leaving them without a medal for the second consecutive time. This loss raises questions about the evolving landscape of international basketball and the narrowing gap between the U.S. and other top teams.

Germany, the only undefeated team in the tournament, will face Serbia in the World Cup final. Serbia defeated Canada in the first semifinal, earning their second final appearance in the last three tournaments. The U.S. will compete against Canada for the bronze medal.

Andreas Obst and Franz Wagner led Germany to victory with 24 and 22 points, respectively. Obst's clutch 3-pointer with 1:15 remaining sealed the win for Germany, extinguishing any hopes of a late comeback by the U.S. The Germans controlled the game for the majority of the match, while the Americans struggled to gain the upper hand.

Despite a valiant effort by the U.S., including a late surge that brought them within one point of Germany, they were unable to take the lead. The final buzzer sounded with Germany celebrating their historic win. The U.S. team, led by Anthony Edwards with 23 points, fell short defensively, allowing Germany to match their shooting percentage of 58%.

This defeat marks a new high in points allowed by a U.S. men's team in the Olympics or World Cup since NBA players were allowed to participate in 1992. It is a disappointing outcome for USA Basketball, who finished seventh in the 2019 World Cup and aimed for nothing less than gold in this tournament.

Germany's victory is a significant milestone for the team, which had previously suffered six losses to the U.S. in World Cup or Olympic competition. The difference-maker for Germany was their dominant third quarter, outscoring the Americans 35-24. This time, they held on to secure the win and advance to the final.

For U.S. coach Steve Kerr and his team, it is a missed opportunity to reclaim their dominance in international basketball. The loss highlights the increasing competitiveness of top international teams and the need for the U.S. to adapt and improve. The U.S. will have to settle for a third or fourth-place finish, which falls short of their gold-medal aspirations.

As Germany celebrates their historic win, U.S. players reflect on what could have been. Former teammates Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder, who faced each other in this game, acknowledge the significance of this victory for German basketball. The U.S. team must now regroup and focus on their upcoming bronze medal match against Canada.

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