World champion Germany missed the surprise coup in a major basketball spectacle immediately before the Olympics.
The team with captain Dennis Schröder lost narrowly 88:92 (41:48) against Olympic champions USA, including the excellent superstar LeBron James, in London. The US team, which features twelve NBA pros, thus successfully took revenge after losing the World Cup semi-final 318 days in Manila in front of the eyes of Germany’s basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki.
“Twelve awesome guys”
Spectacular blocks, thunderous dunks and a series of three-point shots: the 19,177 fans in the sold-out arena in London got to see everything that basketball has to offer just a few days before the opening of the Olympic Games. Schröder (13 points) and Co. held their own in the test in Abu Dhabi and at the World Cup, just like last year, but this time the individual class of the team around US flag bearer James (20 points), Stephen Curry (13) and Anthony Edwards prevailed.
“I’m extremely happy. Meeting a team like this doesn’t happen very often in a career. There are twelve great guys there,” said Franz Wagner (18 points) before the game on ProSieben. The young star of the Orlando Magic plays against all the NBA stars all season, but never in such a concentrated group. The fact that a German international basketball match is shown on free TV at prime time is also rather an exception.
US bank shows off
Whether captain Schröder will also be given the flag-bearer honor that star player James is already certain to receive at the opening ceremony will not be announced until Thursday. The two former teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers gave each other a friendly high five before the game began. Schröder was confident right from the start and converted two quick three-pointers. The USA had trouble getting free throws in the first few minutes.
Two three-pointers from Jrue Holiday and the substitution of the strong second row around NBA champion Jayson Tatum gave the favorites a clear lead for the first time. A 21:4 run allowed the US team, which again had to do without Kevin Durant due to injury, to pull away. But this was far from the preliminary decision that the Germans had feared. “We started well, but then made a few stupid fouls. I’m definitely proud of the team,” said Schröder at halftime.
Germany hopes for ideal farewell for Herbert
The match, which felt “like an away game” to Schröder because of the large number of US fans in the stands, remained close and competitive in the second period. Germany even took the lead again and was not unsettled even by an 8-0 run by the Americans in 48 seconds. Germany went into the final quarter with a three-point lead.
Nowitzki signed jerseys, caps and smartphones during the timeouts – on the court he continued to get the best entertainment and a duel on equal terms. Only an outstanding final phase by the 39-year-old James brought the decision in favor of the Olympic champion.
The USA is considered the clear favorite to win gold at the Summer Games. After winning bronze at the European Championships in 2022 and the surprising World Cup triumph in Manila last year, Germany wants to win its third medal in three years and give national coach Gordon Herbert the ideal farewell. The DBB team begins its preliminary round in Lille on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) against outsider Japan. The USA will face runner-up Serbia, including NBA star Nikola Jokic, in the opening match on Sunday (5:15 p.m.).
Source: www.sport.de
