MANILA – Germany pulled off a massive stunner in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup semifinals. They defeated the United States, 113-111, last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Andreas Obst top-scored for the Germans with 24 points, including four three-point conversions, while Franz Wagner added 22 markers as they set up a championship date with Serbia this Sunday.
Daniel Theis also made his presence felt with 21 point for Germany. Dennis Schroder had a near double-double 17 points and nine assists, while Johannes Thiemann and Moritz Wagner had 10 each.
Down 59-60 at the half, the Germans went on a huge run in the third quarter via inside hits from Theis and outside conversions by Obts, the Wagners and Isaac Bonga for a 94-84 lead.
The Germans maintained the double-digit lead in the fourth quarter but the United States went on a late run courtesy of Austin Reaves and Anthony Edwards to cut the deficit to 111-113 but the time was not enough to turn things around.
Edwards finished with 23 points. Reaves added 21 markers, while Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson contributed 17 and 15 markers, respectively, for the United States, which will face Canada in the battle-for-bronze game.
Meanwhile, Bogdan Bogdanovic came up with timely conversions in the endgame as Serbia held off Canada, 95-86, to return to the FIBA World Cup Finals for the first time since 2014.
Leading by as much as 16 points early in the fourth quarter, the Serbians were stunned by a furious rally by the Canadians to threaten to pull within 76-86 after two free throws by RJ Barrett.
Bogdanovic, however, kept their opponents at bay as he drilled back-to-back conversions, followed by an inside basket from Dejan Davidovac, to increase the lead to 95-79 with over a minute remaining.
Bogdanovic top-scored for the Serbians with 23 points; Nikola Milutinov added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds; and Ognjen Dobric also ended up with 16 points in the semis win.
BOX SCORE:
GERMANY 113 – Obst 24, F. Wagner 22, Theis 21, Schroder 17, Thiemann 10, M. Wagner 10, Voigtmann 6, Bonga 3, Lo 0, Giffey 0.
USA 111 – Edwards 23, Reaves 21, Bridges 17, Brunson 15, Hart 9, Jackson 8, Haliburton 7, Banchero 6, Portis 5, Jackson 0.Quarterscores: 33-31, 59-60, 94-84, 113-111./PN
