10 Daniel Theis (GER) - USA v Germany, 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Manila - Mall of Asia Arena (Philippines), Semi-Finals, 8 September 2023 (Mandatory Photo Credit: FIBA)
Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis and Germany take down Tyrese Haliburton and Team USA in World Cup Semifinal
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Team USA fell to Pacers center Daniel Theis and Germany in the semifinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Friday morning.
It was a huge win for Germany, and they celebrated like it after the game. They have been playing well in the tournament and are the only undefeated team left. In the end, they were able to take down the United States 113-111.
Theis and co jumped out to a big lead early, earning a 10-point advantage in the first quarter. Team USA steadied the ship and kept things close, but that early deficit proved to be important. The United States struggled to maintain a lead once they got it back.
Germany was the more physical side. They won the rebounding battle, including bringing in 12 offensive boards, and their ability to set hard, solid screens made defending much more difficult for the red, white, and blue. Theis contributed to both of those advantages.
The Pacers big man finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. He was one of the better players on the floor throughout the game.
"THIS TEAM," Theis tweeted, along with some emojis, after the game. "NOT DONE YET."
Germany shot well from deep (12/25) and nailed 68% of their two-point looks. Given that they had extra shot attempts due to their work on the offensive glass, those efficiency numbers proved to be too much for Team USA to overcome.
They tried, though. Despite trailing by 10 with 4:42 to go, the United States didn't give up and rattled off an 11-2 run over the next three minutes. They had momentum late and were down by just one point.
But Germany steadied the ship and held on for a win. They received big contributions from many role players, including forward Andreas Obst who led all scorers with 24 points.
Germany is now off to the finals of the World Cup, where they will take on Serbia. Nikola Jokic isn't playing in the tournament, but Serbia still has NBA talent including Filip Petrusev, Nikola Jovic, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, as well as some former NBA players. They are a solid squad, and Germany will look to take them down on Sunday at 8:40 a.m. Eastern Time.
Team USA fell for the second time of the tournament, the first one coming to Lithuania this past Sunday. Both defeats were similar — their opponents thrived on the glass and shot the ball well from deep. The United States struggled to compete with that style.
In this game, their offense was exceptional. Scoring 111 should have been enough to win. But they lost basically every battle on the margins, and it cost them. They are now competing for third place.
"Obviously super tough. We knew the task at hand and that was to go win and we didn't do that. So, tip your hat," Team USA guard Austin Reaves said of the loss, per Nicole Ganglani of Silver Screen and Roll.
Haliburton did his part. He finished with seven points, one rebound, and eight assists while Team USA was +14 with the Pacers guard on the floor. They routinely made runs when he entered the game. Head coach Steve Kerr put Haliburton in with the starters during the third quarter, a signal that the team needed his contributions.
In the end, the red, white, and blue weren't good enough, especially on defense. They will now duel Canada, who has more than a half-dozen NBA players, for third place on Sunday at 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
If both Theis and Haliburton win on Sunday, they will both finish on the podium in the World Cup, a significant achievement even if Team USA has lofty goals. Then, they will get ready for Pacers training camp, which begins in under a month.
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