Latvia and Germany faced off in a closely contested match at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Germany ultimately secured an 81-79 victory, earning them a place in the Semi-Finals in Manila. The game was marked by seven tie scores and 15 lead changes, providing plenty of excitement for fans.
Coach Luca Banchi’s strategy to assign Rodions Kurucs to defend against Dennis Schroder, a taller opponent, paid off, as Schroder struggled with his shooting, making only 4 of 26 attempts. This performance tied a World Cup record for the most missed shots, a record previously held by Kirk Penney in 2002.
Latvia’s Arturs Zagars showcased his skills with an impressive 24-point performance, including some remarkable left-handed finishes in traffic. With just over 30 seconds left on the clock, the score stood at 81-79, offering hope of a potential comeback victory.
In a critical moment, Dennis Schroder missed a floater, and during the subsequent transition, Davis Bertans attempted a game-winning three-pointer. Unfortunately, the shot hit the rim and went out of bounds as time expired, solidifying Germany’s narrow win.
Looking ahead, Latvia will regroup and prepare for the Classification Games 5-8, aiming to conclude their tournament run positively. Despite the outcome, both teams exhibited resilience and determination on the global basketball stage.
“I’m proud of this team, battling every single game,” Davis Bertans said. “We put ourselves in a position to win not because of any individual player, but because we played like a team, we played the right way. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done in the end.”
Watch the game highlights between Germany and Latvia in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
