The United States, the heavyweights of international basketball, has been knocked out of the FIBA World Cup.
Call this the Illa in Manila.
The Steve Kerr-led Americans were stunned by Germany, 113-111, in the semifinals of the World Cup on Friday in The Philippines.
“This team is very worthy of winning a championship,” Kerr said. “And we just didn’t get it done.”
The Americans trailed 106-94 with 5:24 to play before mounting a comeback that came up just short. Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves led a 13-2 run to pull within one point.
Jalen Brunson and the US played Germany in a hard-fought semifinal game. AFP via Getty Images
Germany guard Andreas Obst celebrates after a 3-point shot. APBut then Germany’s Andreas Obst nailed a corner 3 and Dennis Schroder hit a jumper to hand the U.S. its latest international disappointment.
Edwards paced the Americans with 23 while Reaves chipped in 21.
Knicks star Jalen Brunson provided 15 points and seven assists, but was on the bench during crunch time.
“Terrible,” Brunson said. “Plain and simple.”
Germany center Johannes Voigtmann celebrates after winning against the United States. AP“We knew the task at hand, and that was to go win,” U.S. guard Austin Reaves said. “And we didn’t do that.”
The Americans shot 58% — but let Germany shoot 58% as well, and that was the ultimate undoing.
“If you give up 113 points in a 40-minute game, you’re not going to win many of those,” Reaves said.
The previous high for points allowed by a U.S. men’s team in the Olympics or World Cup in the era when NBA players could be used — going back to 1992 — was 110. And that was earlier in this tournament, against Lithuania, which also was a U.S. loss.
A dejected Jaren Jackson Jr. after Team USA loss. Getty ImagesThat loss didn’t doom the Americans’ gold-medal hopes. This one did.
“We weren’t ever able to make them feel us defensively,” Kerr said.
Obst led Germany with 24 points. The Magic’s Franz Wagner added 22 and the Pacers’ Daniel Theis had 21.
Anthony Edwards drives to the basket in US World Cup game against Germany on Sept. 8, 2023. Getty ImagesThe U.S. will face Canada on Sunday for the bronze medal.
The Americans last won the tournament in 2014. In 2019, they were knocked out by France in the quarterfinals.
Germany will play Serbia on Sunday for the title.
— with AP



