USA dominates Italy with a 100-63 victory, securing a spot in the Basketball World Cup Semifinals.
Poor Italy
The U.S. national team woke up after losing a game at the Basketball World Cup. They were determined to make a change and they did just that by delivering a devastating blow to Italy. It was Italy’s worst loss in a global tournament in nearly 55 years. The Americans dominated defensively and secured a 100–63 victory in the World Cup quarterfinals.
“It’s been a five-week journey for this group and there’s five more days. That’s how we look at it,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re the horse turning back to the barn. The horse starts picking up pace when it’s near the barn, and that’s what’s happening right now. Our guys are sensing this is the end of the journey and the energy picked up tonight, the pace, the force. They know what’s ahead. They know what the goal is.”
Gold is the ultimate goal for the U.S. national team. They have a chance to reach the gold-medal game if they win their semifinal match against either Germany or Latvia. The medal games will take place on Sunday.
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The last time Italy suffered such a significant defeat in a tournament of this caliber was on Oct. 14, 1968, during the Mexico City Olympics. Italy struggled to find their rhythm, shooting only 31 percent and making just 7 of 38 (18 percent) from beyond the arc.
The U.S. team’s improvement was evident. After a shocking loss to Lithuania, where Lithuania made 9 consecutive 3-pointers, the U.S. held Italy to less than 9 3-pointers for the entire game.
“We just felt that energy from the jump,” said Mikal Bridges. “Everybody felt it.”
The U.S. dominated the first half, leading 46–24 at halftime. Anthony Edwards, the team’s leading scorer, didn’t even score until the third quarter, yet his absence on the scoresheet didn’t affect the outcome. The U.S. showcased their best defensive effort of the summer.
“Everything stayed the same,” U.S. point guard Jalen Brunson said. “It’s just, our approach had to be a little better.”
The Americans finished with a 10–1 record this summer, with Austin Reaves contributing 12 points in the victory. Simone Fontecchio led Italy with 18 points.
Four years ago, the U.S. team suffered a devastating loss to France in the quarterfinals, resulting in their elimination from medal contention. This time, they are determined to secure a medal by focusing on their defense and playing their preferred style of basketball.
“Any time you can create a tough shot, rebound and go, it’s going to make our offense so much better,” Reaves said.
Italy has only beaten the U.S. twice in 14 previous attempts at the senior men’s national level. The U.S. team made sure to avenge those losses with a dominant performance. The Italians tried to keep up, but the U.S. team’s energy and skill were unmatched.
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