Posted on: September 8, 2023, 11:21h.
Last updated on: September 8, 2023, 11:21h.
Germany upsets Team USA as a +10 underdog in the FIBA World Cup semifinals. The gold medal game will feature Serbia and Germany in the FIBA World Cup final on Sunday evening in Manila.
The men’s basketball FIBA World Cup was jointly hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. The final game between Germany (7-0) and Serbia (6-1) will be held at Manila’s Mall of Asia Arena.
In the bronze medal game on Sunday, Canada (5-2) will face USA (5-2). Serbia defeated Canada in the semifinals, ending Canada’s impressive run. Despite their loss in the semifinal, Canada still has a chance to secure a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup with one more victory.
By finishing in the top four at the FIBA World Cup, both USA and Canada have qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
USA was the favorite to win the gold medal in the FIBA World Cup. At the start of the semifinals, the Americans had odds of -165 to win the gold medal. On DraftKings’ futures board, Canada was the second favorite with odds of +240. Serbia (+800) and Germany (+900) were considered heavy underdogs for Friday night’s games.
Serbia 95, Canada 86
Despite being a -5 favorite, Canada suffered a nine-point loss to Serbia in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, a shooting guard from the Atlanta Hawks, led Serbia to victory with 16 points. Nikola Milutinov and Ognjen Dobric also made significant contributions, each scoring 16 points.
Serbia’s defense effectively shut down Canada’s leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, holding him to just 15 points. RJ Barrett, a swingman from the New York Knicks, led Canada in scoring with 23 points, while Dillon Brooks, a guard with the Houston Rockets, added 16 points to their effort.
In terms of shooting percentage, Serbia was the top team in the FIBA World Cup, averaging 55% from the field. In the semifinals against Canada, they maintained their hot shooting by making 62% of their shots. They also shot 45% from 3-point range, hitting nine treys.
Despite the absence of Nikola Jokic, Serbia reached the FIBA World Cup Final with a 6-1 record. Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP, chose to skip the tournament in order to rest and recover from the NBA Playoffs. Even without their star player, Serbia has excelled and now faces undefeated Germany in the final.
Germany 113, USA 111
Germany pulled off a shocking upset against the favored USA, winning by two points in the FIBA World Cup semifinals.
Dennis Schroder, the point guard from the Los Angeles Lakers, led Germany with 26 points, while Daniel Theis, a forward from the Indiana Pacers, contributed 24 points. Shooting guard Andreas Obst also had a strong performance with 24 points, including a crucial 3-pointer to seal the victory.
Although USA initially fought back and took a one-point lead at halftime, they struggled in the second half. Germany outscored them 35-24 in the third quarter, building a lead of up to ten points. Despite a late comeback attempt, Germany ultimately held off Team USA’s efforts.
In the losing effort, Anthony Edwards led USA with 26 points, followed by Mikal Bridges with 22 points. Austin Reaves scored 19 points off the bench, and Josh Hart added 17 points.
With a perfect 7-0 record, Germany remains undefeated in the FIBA World Cup and now looks to secure the gold medal.