With a four-time NBA Championship-winning coach on the helm and a bunch of All-Stars on the roster, Team USA was tipped to win gold on the 2023 World Cup.
Instead, it’s again to the drafting board for the second consecutive match.
The Americans will go residence empty-handed after a shocking capitulation within the Philippines.
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A shock defeat to Germany within the semi-finals ended the workforce’s gold medal hopes earlier than they suffered a shocking 127-118 time beyond regulation loss to Canada within the bronze medal playoff.
Dillon Brooks led the way in which for the Canadians with 39 factors, whereas fellow NBA gamers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 factors) and RJ Barrett (23) had been additionally large contributors.
Anthony Edwards led the US with 24 factors, backed up by LA Laker Austin Reaves (23).
No one is mistaking this US workforce for something just like the “Dream Team” line-ups of the previous, with the likes of Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and LeBron James all sitting out.
But whereas the remainder of the world has caught up, no different nation may boast a roster that includes NBA All-Stars Edwards, Jaren Jackson, Tyrese Halliburton and Brandon Ingram, reigning rookie of the 12 months Paolo Banchero and a number of different NBA starters.
Led by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, the workforce simply accounted for New Zealand, Greece and Jordan within the group stage.
They made onerous work of Montenegro to start out the second spherical earlier than shedding to Lithuania, a outcome that ought to have been a wake-up name.
After hammering Italy within the quarter-finals, the Americans misplaced consecutive matches to Germany and Canada to overlook out on the rostrum altogether.
The fallout was swift and brutal, with the workforce labelled “fake, pathetic stars”, a “bunch of frauds” and “crybabies that only care about money”.
They had been lucky to even make it to time beyond regulation in opposition to Canada, needing an unbelievable play from Mikal Bridges to pressure the additional interval.
Bridges intentionally missed a free-throw, obtained the rebound, ran to the three-point line and nailed the shot to tie the scores with 0.6 seconds remaining.
But behind Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander, the underdogs had been too robust down the stretch.
The victory is an enormous achievement for the Canadians, who had been lacking their finest participant in Jamal Murray however stroll away with a primary ever World Cup medal.
“This may be their greatest moment in international basketball,” commentator Jeff Taylor mentioned.
“First time ever making it this far and they’ve made it on the podium.
“Wow, what a moment for Canadian basketball.
“The USA came here expecting to win this title and walk away with nothing.”
Germany and Serbia will face-off within the gold medal match.
Source: www.news.com.au
