– The United States men's basketball team suffered a stunning 113-111 loss to Germany in the semifinals of the Basketball World Cup on Friday night. It is the second consecutive time that the USA has failed to win gold in the tournament.
– Germany led for most of the game, and never trailed in the fourth quarter. – Andreas Obst led Germany with 24 points, while Franz Wagner added 22. – Kevin Durant led the USA with 28 points, but he was held to just 10 points in the second half.
– USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said the team was "disappointed" with the loss. – Durant said the USA "didn't play our best basketball".
– The loss is a major setback for the USA, which has won the last four Olympic titles. – It also raises questions about the future of USA Basketball, and whether the team needs to make changes in order to regain its dominance.
– This is the second time in the last three World Cups that the USA has failed to win gold. – The USA also lost in the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup, to France.
– The USA will play for the bronze medal on Sunday against the loser of the France-Australia game. – The team will then have to regroup and focus on the 2024 Olympics, where it will be looking to reclaim its gold medal.
– Reaction from Germany:German head coach Henrik Rödl said the win was "a dream come true". German guard Dennis Schröder said the team "played with a lot of heart".
– Implications for the future of the sport:The USA's loss is a sign that the rest of the world is catching up in basketball. It could also lead to more investment in basketball programs around the world.
– Conclusion:The USA's loss to Germany is a major upset, but it is also a sign of the growing strength of international basketball. The USA will have to work hard to regain its dominance in the sport.