10 Daniel Theis (GER) - Germany v Georgia, 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Okinawa - Okinawa Arena(Japan), Second Round, 1 September 2023 (Mandatory Photo Credit: FIBA)
Team USA and Germany clinch quarterfinal berths in World Cup, Pacers players Tyrese Haliburton and Daniel Theis advance
On Friday morning, the first set of games were played as a part of the second in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. The results were perfect for Indiana Pacers players Daniel Theis and Tyrese Haliburton, who are both still alive in the competition.
Haliburton is suiting up for Team USA, and he has been one of the better players for the red, white, and blue throughout the event. He has received praise from Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves as well as head coach Steve Kerr.
On Friday morning, Haliburton and the United States took on Montenegro, who is led by Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic and former Bulls big man Marko Simonovic.
Team USA got off to a rocky start and were trailing at halftime. But a big second half from Anthony Edwards (17 points) was enough for Haliburton and co to come away with an 85-73 victory. The Pacers guard finished with 10 points and six assists (a team high) in the win.
"He's really a unique player and a beautiful player to watch and obviously very effective," Kerr said of Haliburton earlier in the competition, per ESPN.
That win from the United States, combined with Lithuania's win over Greece, was enough for Team USA to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. They, along with Lithuania, sit at 4-0 in Group J while Montenegro and Greece are 2-2. The top two teams advance, and each squad only has one more game.
Lithuania and Team USA will battle for first place in the group on Sunday.
Theis and Germany, meanwhile, had to face off with Georgia this morning. Former Pacers big man Goga Bitadze is on the Georgian squad.
Germany is the far more talented team, though, and they rolled past Georgia. They did most of their damage in the second half, but they started well enough to feel comfortable all game long.
Theis finished with 11 points and four rebounds in the win. Germany has yet to lose a game in the tournament despite being without Franz Wagner (ankle injury) for much of it.
The Pacers big man was happy with how his team started the competition. He toggles between the four and five positions for the German squad, and he fills both roles well.
Germany's win, coupled with a Slovenia win over Australia, was enough to push the Germans into the quarterfinals. Germany and Slovenia are 4-0 while Australia and Georgia are 2-2 with just one second round game left for each team.
Germany is in a similar position to Team USA. Theis and co play against Slovenia on Sunday, and the winner takes home the top spot in Group K.
Even if Haliburton and Theis both lose on Sunday, they will move on to the knockout stage, which begins next Tuesday. Their opponents at that stage can't be known until Sunday, but both players will be moving on no matter what. They have both been key contributors to their squads throughout the tournament. The earliest they could meet is the semifinals, though they already faced off in an exhibition.
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