In a triumphant comeback following their first tournament loss, the United States secured a spot in the medal round of the Basketball World Cup.
Mikal Bridges showcased his prowess with a remarkable 24-point performance, with 14 of those points coming in the first half. Tyrese Haliburton added 18 points, contributing to the U.S. team’s dominant 100-63 victory over Italy in the World Cup quarterfinals held on Tuesday night.
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This victory marks the 15th top-four finish for the Americans (5-1) out of 19 World Cup appearances. Their next challenge awaits in the form of either Germany (5-0) or Latvia (4-1), who will compete in the quarterfinals in Manila on Wednesday. The U.S. will confront the winner in the semifinals scheduled for Friday.
Bridges commented on the team’s energy, stating, “We just felt that energy from the jump. Everybody felt it.”
Even the Italian team could not escape the American energy surge. The halftime score was a commanding 46-24 in favor of the USA. An impressive follow-slam by Austin Reaves left the crowd in awe, emphasizing the U.S. dominance. Anthony Edwards, the leading scorer for the team, only managed to score his first basket in the third quarter, highlighting the team’s balanced performance.
The U.S. defense, which had struggled in their previous game against Lithuania, held Italy to a mere 6-of-31 shooting during the final 15 minutes of the first half. Italy’s three-point shooting was equally ineffective, with only 2 successful attempts out of 21, culminating in a disappointing 31% field goal percentage.
Point guard Jalen Brunson emphasized that their approach had improved, and they maintained their consistency. Reaves contributed 12 points to the American victory, solidifying their impressive summer record of 10-1. Simone Fontecchio led Italy (4-2) with 18 points.
In stark contrast to their dismal quarterfinal performance four years ago in China, where they were eliminated by France, the U.S. is now on track for a medal. Winning on Friday ensures at least a medal, and winning both Friday and Sunday could lead to gold.
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The U.S. had only suffered two defeats in 14 previous meetings with Italy at the senior men’s national level, both at the world championships (now known as the World Cup) in 1970 and 1978, the latter taking place in Manila.
While Italy briefly hung around in the early minutes of the game, the U.S. pulled ahead with a strong second unit, continuing their summer trend. With a 24-14 lead after the first quarter and a 22-point lead at halftime, the Americans are now eagerly awaiting Friday’s challenge.
Bridges expressed the team’s readiness, stating, “We were ready, and we’re going to stay ready until we get out of here.”
Additional notes:
- The U.S. dominated in three-point shooting, outscoring Italy 51-21 from beyond the arc.
- The U.S. was considered 16.5-point favorites by FanDuel Sportsbook at the start of the game.
- Starting center Jaren Jackson Jr. faced early foul trouble, receiving two fouls in the first 2:14 of the game.
- NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein was present at the event, a familiar face in courtside seats at major games across the U.S.
For their next matchups:
- The USA will face either Germany or Latvia in the semifinals on Friday.
- Italy will compete against either Germany or Latvia in the consolation playoffs on Thursday.
