10 Daniel Theis (GER) - Germany v Slovenia, 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Okinawa - Okinawa Arena (Japan), Second Round, 3 September 2023. (Mandatory Photo Credit: FIBA)
Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton and Daniel Theis game schedule for quarterfinals of FIBA Basketball World Cup
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and center Daniel Theis both have qualified for the quarterfinals with their teams in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Theis, who is playing for Germany, and Haliburton, who is on Team USA, both clinched a quarterfinal berth last Friday.
They each played on Saturday, too, to wrap up group stage play. For Theis and Germany, it was an impressive victory. They took down Luka Doncic and Slovenia 100-71 despite a slow start. Theis finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Indiana's reserve big man continues to play well as a screening center who can knock down a few jumpers. He got into a verbal spat with teammate Dennis Schroder during the game, but it didn't impact either player's performance as Germany dominated down the stretch. Both of them had excellent outings.
Haliburton and Team USA, meanwhile, struggled in their final group stage game. They dueled with Lithuania, who was also undefeated in the tournament at the time of the matchup.
The Lithuanian group canned their first nine threes, which helped them jump out to a 19-point lead after one quarter. Team USA was the better unit the rest of the way, but they were in far too big of a hole to make a comeback.
They got it close late, but the red, white, and blue fell 110-104. It was their first loss of the summer, including both the World Cup and exhibition play. Haliburton had three points and seven assists in the defeat.
Fortunately for Team USA, they had already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals, so the loss didn't impact their ability to move on in the tournament. They also locked up a spot in the Paris Olympics over the weekend.
"I think we are all guys that feel like we want something to prove in this league. At the same time, we're all up and coming guys and we don't have a ton of veterans," Haliburton said of the team, per the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The quarterfinals begin on Tuesday. Here is when the two Pacers players will hit the hardwood next, including their tentative schedule for the week.
Tyrese Haliburton and Team USA
Haliburton and co will face off with Italy in the quarterfinals. The Italian squad is highlighted by Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio as well as former NBA pros Nicolo Melli and Luigi Datome.
Italy topped Group I with a 4-1 record. Team USA will be tested by a strong defensive side.
The quarterfinal tilt between the two national teams will be played on Tuesday morning at 8:40 a.m. Eastern Time. If the United States wins, they will move on to the semifinals and play again on Friday versus the winner of the Germany vs Latvia game. If they lose, they will duel the loser of that game on Thursday. The time of their next game won't be known until the quarterfinal round is over.
Daniel Theis and Germany
Theis and the German squad, as mentioned above, take on Latvia in the quarterfinals. Latvia finished second in Group L and has been one of the more surprising teams in the competition. They are led by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Davis Bertans and former NBA players Rodions Kurucs, Dairis Bertans, and Anzejs Pasecniks.
Latvia is 4-1 so far. They have impressive wins over France, Brazil, and Spain despite being without Kristaps Porzingis.
Germany will try to end Latvia's run on Wednesday at 4:45 a.m. Eastern Time. If they win, they're headed to the semifinals on Friday. There, they would face the winner of Team USA vs Italy. If they lose to Latvia, they will play the loser of USA-Italy on Thursday. None of the games beyond Wednesday can be scheduled until the quarterfinals are over.
Germany and Team USA could face off in the semifinals, which would be the second time Theis and Haliburton have dueled this summer. They battled in an exhibition on August 20.
Both teams will look to medal in the tournament. Both Indiana players winning in the next two days would guarantee that a Pacer will earn a medal.
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