Down, But Not Out 🇺🇸

09/05/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Lithuania Upsets Team USA at FIBA World Cup (110-104); Spain Crashes Out as Field Trimmed to Final 8

Team USA’s perfect run at the 2023 FIBA World Cup came to an end on Sunday morning, but it’s not over for the stars and stripes. The U.S. squeaked by Montenegro on Friday (85-73) in a nerve-racking affair. Come Sunday, their 4-0 start hit its first snag. Lithuania jumped on Team USA with a 31-12 blowout first quarter. Steve Kerr’s squad fought back to make it a game in the second half, but Lithuania got the best of Team USA (110-104). Anthony Edwards’s 35-point performance wasn’t enough to take down an opponent with just three NBA players on the roster. They’re still moving on to the quarterfinals, but they weren’t the only top team who got caught sleeping on an Eastern European squad…

 

Spain Sent Packing: Spain was the other dominant favorite who fell in the second round, losing to Latvia (74-69) in a stunner before getting knocked out by Canada (88-85).

 

Eight teams remain. Both the USA and Canada are still alive with one loss on the resume, and six European squads look amped to target the North America powerhouses. Next up? It’s USA vs. Italy this morning.

 

FIBA World Cup Bracket (Quarterfinals)

 Lithuania vs.  Serbia (Tues. 4:45 am ET)

 USA vs.  Italy (Tues. 8:40 am ET)

 Germany vs.  Latvia (Wed. 4:45 am ET)

 Canada vs.  Slovenia (Wed. 8:30 am ET)

Semifinals: Friday, Sept. 8

Finals: Sunday, Sept. 10

 

Read More

WaPo: What’s Next for USA Basketball After Wake-Up Call Against Lithuania?

ESPN: Takeaways From Team USA’s 1st World Cup Loss to Lithuania

 

Photo: Yong Teck Lim / Getty Images