Manila, Philippines – The United States men’s basketball team displayed an emphatic rebound after suffering their first loss in the FIBA World Cup, as they convincingly defeated Italy 100-63 in the quarterfinals, securing a spot in the tournament’s medal round.
Mikal Bridges led the charge with an impressive performance, contributing 24 points, with 14 coming in the first half. Tyrese Haliburton added 18 points to the American tally. However, the suffocating defense of the U.S. team stole the show, shutting down Italy for extended stretches during the game.
This victory marks the 15th time the United States has finished in the top four of the FIBA World Cup out of 19 appearances. Their overall record in the tournament now stands at 5-1. The U.S. will advance to the semifinals, where they await the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Germany (5-0) and Latvia (4-1). The outcome of that match, scheduled for Wednesday in Manila, will determine the U.S. team’s next opponent on Friday.
The American team was dominant, establishing a commanding 46-24 lead by halftime. Austin Reaves put an exclamation point on the first half with a thunderous follow-slam that had his teammates on their feet. Anthony Edwards, the team’s leading scorer entering the game, didn’t even make it onto the scoresheet until the first possession of the third quarter. Despite this, the U.S. didn’t require Edwards’ heroics, as their exceptional defense stifled Italy’s offensive efforts.
The U.S. defense, which had struggled in their previous game against Lithuania, conceding 110 points in a narrow loss, came to life against Italy. They limited Italy to a dismal 6-of-31 shooting during the final 15 minutes of the first half. In stark contrast to Lithuania’s hot three-point shooting performance (9 for 9) in their game against the U.S., Italy struggled mightily from beyond the arc, starting the game with a 2-for-21 record.
Simone Fontecchio was the lone standout for Italy, contributing 18 points to their total.
Four years ago, during the World Cup in China, it was the quarterfinals where the U.S. journey unraveled. A defeat against France in the quarterfinals dashed their hopes of medaling. It led to a disappointing seventh-place finish, marking the worst performance by a U.S. team in a prominent men’s international event.
However, this time around, history will not repeat itself. The United States secured a spot in the medal round with this quarterfinal victory. A win in the upcoming semifinal would guarantee at least a silver medal, and if they can clinch victories in both the semifinal and the final, the U.S. team will be heading home with the gold.
Italy had only beaten the United States twice in 14 previous encounters at the senior men’s national level. These victories occurred during the world championships, now known as the FIBA World Cup, in 1970 and 1978. The Italians briefly kept pace with the U.S. in the game’s early minutes. Still, the Americans soon surged ahead, thanks to their second solid unit, which has consistently performed well throughout the tournament.
With the countdown to Friday’s semifinal now underway, the United States is poised for redemption and the opportunity to reclaim international basketball glory.
