Team USA Basketball are heading to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, after defeating Germany in a comeback win 99-91 on Sunday night in Abu Dhabi. Team USA finishes the exhibition season with a perfect 5-0 record.
After trailing by as much as 16 in the second half, Team USA’s Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, Austin Reaves and Tyrese Haliburton each added 16 and the U.S. rallied for the win. Germany’s Franz Wagner scored 17 points, getting 16 points and 10 assists from Dennis Schroder, and 14 points from Moritz Wagner. Wagner’s 3-pointer with 6:58 left put Germany up 86-77. The Germans missed their next eight shots — and the Americans scored the game’s next 18 points.
Team USA has been together for only 2 1/2 weeks. but have played to perfection during the exhibition season, beginning with a 117-74 win in Las Vegas over Puerto Rico, then heading to Spain for wins over Slovenia and Spain (98-88). From Spain, they headed to Abu Dhabi, where they first defeated Greece 108-86 on Friday, before Sunday’s win against Germany.
The 2023 Fiba World Cup will take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. The U.S. is the favorite to win the tournament, and will face New Zealand, Greece and Jordan in group play that starts Saturday in Manila.
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