FIBA World Cup result: USA wins gold; blows out Serbia, 122-92
After Serbia jumped out to an interesting, but somewhat typical of a first quarter Team USA game, over the United States 15-7 in the first quarter, jumped to a huge run that ended in the U.S. leading at the half 67-41. The game was over at the half, leading to one of Team USA’s most impressive wins in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
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Everyone expected a Spain-United States gold medal game, but France trounced any chances of that when they defeat the Spaniards in the quarterfinals. The LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Paul George-less U.S. team that seemed vulnerable at one point, silenced all critics as they extended their winning streak to 63 games. The Americans became just the third team to win back-to-back FIBA titles and won their fifth overall.
James Harden scored six consecutive points to spark a 31-6 run that included Kyrie Irving at his absolute best and Demarcus Cousins dominating the glass. Having entered averaging just 10.4 points per game in the tournament, Irving hit seven of nine shots (including all four of his three-pointers) in the first half for 18 points.
But the Cousins component was simply huge, as he entered at the 7:38 mark when Anthony Davis drew his second foul and grabbed six rebounds in approximately six minutes of play. He finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Irving led the Americans with 26 points, while Harden had 23.
The Americans proved once again to have the best basketball players in the world, and they’ll look to re-assume that role in the 2016 Summer Olympic games in Rio.