In the annals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup history, an intense and high-scoring Semi-Final clash took place between the United States and Germany, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Ultimately, Germany emerged as the victors, clinching the game with a final score of 113-111.
Consequently, Germany is set to advance to the Sunday Finals, where they will face off against Serbia, while the United States will compete in the Third Place Game against Canada.
Comparing this thrilling Semi-Final to a memorable 1994 game between Russia and Croatia, the difference is stark. In 1994, the final score was a modest 66-64, marking a significant contrast to the modern basketball landscape.
During the Semi-Final showdown between the United States and Germany, the two teams collectively tallied an astonishing 119 points in just the first half, with the USA holding a slight 60-59 lead.
The second half witnessed an even faster pace, particularly on the part of the German team. Players like Franz Wagner, Daniel Theis, and Andreas Obst took control, upping the tempo and showcasing remarkable skills such as driving and passing.
Notably, Obst displayed his impressive shooting abilities and amassed 19 points before the fourth quarter even began.
A swift 5-0 run, led by Isaac Bonga and Johannes Thiemann, allowed Germany to establish a commanding 84-75 lead with two and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter.
After Dennis Schroder executed a pull-up shot against a defensive switch by Paolo Banchero, the score stood at 94-84 after 30 minutes of play.
In the final quarter, the USA mounted a valiant comeback attempt. Consecutive three-pointers from Austin Reaves and Anthony Edwards closed the gap to just three points at 106-103, with 3:17 left in the game.
The enthusiastic crowd of 11,011 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena fervently supported the USA, chanting “Defense! Defense!” The excitement peaked when Edwards delivered a spectacular dunk during this comeback surge.
Reaves’ successful free throws further narrowed the deficit to 108-107 with slightly over a minute remaining.
Nonetheless, Germany responded with a pivotal corner three-pointer by Andi Obst. Schroder’s pull-up shot extended the lead to 113-107.
Despite Reaves quickly dunking to reduce the gap to -4, the USA faced a critical moment when Anthony Edwards accidentally threw the ball out of bounds with 27.6 seconds remaining on the clock.
Germany adeptly managed the clock, securing their inaugural spot in the Finals, amidst thunderous support from the crowd.
“This is a super special group, obviously a historic win for Germany,” Franz Wagner said. “I don’t know what to say about the game, we got one more.
“For me this is just the second summer with the national team, but for almost everybody else, they’ve been playing for the national team for multiple years, and got years of experience on this level, and playing together, too. We grew from (FIBA EuroBasket 2022), playing together more times every summer definitely helps.”
Watch the game highlights between USA and Germany in the Semi-Finals at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
