USA Powers Past Italy 100-63 to Advance to Basketball World Cup Semifinals
After a surprising loss at the Basketball World Cup, the U.S. national team was awakened, refocusing their efforts, dedicating themselves anew, and vowing for change. Italy, unfortunately, bore the brunt of their revitalized determination. The American squad converted their words into actions, handing Italy its most humiliating defeat in a major international tournament in nearly 55 years. In the quarterfinals of the World Cup, the USA dominated, securing a 100-63 victory on Tuesday night.
As the American team inch close to gold with a semifinal win, they will face either Germany or Latvia on Friday, with the medal games slated for Sunday. The last time Italy suffered such a resounding loss in a major tournament was on October 14, 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics when they fell to the USA with a score of 100-61. During Tuesday's game, the Italians struggled with a 31% shooting rate and a dismal 18% from beyond the arc, converting just 7 of 38 attempted three-pointers.
This marked a significant improvement for the USA, especially considering Lithuania's strong start in three-point shooting against them in the previous match, where the Lithuanians made their first nine attempts. In stark contrast, Italy was unable to achieve nine three-pointers throughout the entire game on Tuesday.
The American team demonstrated their intensity right from the beginning, taking a commanding 46-24 lead at halftime, with a highlight-worthy follow-slam from Austin Reaves. Anthony Edwards, the team's leading scorer in earlier games, didn't register any points until the first possession of the third quarter, showcasing that their dominant defensive effort rendered significant offensive contributions unnecessary.
With this win, the U.S. improved their overall record to 10-1 for the summer. Simone Fontecchio led Italy with 18 points. Italy managed to stay competitive for only a brief period at the beginning of the game.
The U.S. had faced disappointment in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 World Cup in China, where they suffered a loss to France, ultimately finishing in seventh place, the worst result for the U.S. in a major men's international event. This time, things appear different, as they maintain their focus on defense while maintaining a relentless offensive pace, inviting their opponents to adapt to their preferred style of play.
Italy had only beaten the U.S. twice in 14 previous matchups at the senior men's national level, both times at the world championships (now called the World Cup), in 1970 and 1978. However, the U.S. was prepared this time, quickly building a lead in the first quarter and extending it further in the second.
The USA's victory over Italy propels them into the semifinals, maintaining their pursuit of the gold medal. This emphatic win showcases their determination to succeed and leave their mark on the tournament.
SportsLigue