USA shoot past Serbia to win 2014 title, retain world crown

The USA beat Serbia 129-92 to successfully defend the world crown they won in Turkey in 2010

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The United States shot their way to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup title by hitting 15 three-pointers in a 129-92 victory over Serbia in Sunday's Final to become the first repeat world champions since 2002.

Kyrie Irving and James Harden combined to hit nine of 11 three-pointers and scored 26 and 23 points respectively to lead the Americans in scoring. Six other US players scored in double figures, including DeMarcus Cousins, who had 11 points and nine rebounds.

The Americans, who won their nine games at Spain 2014 by an average of 33 points, finished the Final hitting 15 of 30 three-pointers after making 11 of their first 15.

The 37-point victory over Serbia was close to the all-time mark for the biggest winning margin in a Final of 46 points in the USA's 137–91 defeat of Russia in 1994. The 129 points were also the second-most ever in a Final, behind those 137.

The USA, winners of the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, claimed their fifth world crown, pulling them even with Yugoslavia for the most in history. Yugoslavia are also the last team to repeat as world champions in 1998 and 2002. Brazil also accomplished the feat in 1959 and 1963.

Serbia secured their best placing under the Serbian flag as runners-up as Nikola Kalinic and Nemanja Bjelica both scored 18 points to lead the way for Serbia while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 15 points and Milos Teodosic scored 10.

Serbia were able to keep possession of the ball and made their first five shots - three of them off assists - for a 10-5 lead and a US timeout. They even pushed the lead to 12-5 on the first possession after the timeout.

The Americans responded with a 17-3 run for a 22-15 lead with Irving hitting two jumpers and making a lay-up while Nenad Krstic missed a couple of opportunities inside.

Three-pointers by Irving and Klay Thompson pushed the margin to 30-19 and Irving’s third three-pointer of the quarter had the cushion up to 35-19, which was down to 35-21 after one quarter.

The USA didn't cool down at all from the outside in the second quarter with six more efforts from beyond the arc helping increase the lead out to 31 points - 67-36. The advantage at halftime was 67-41.

Serbia cut the deficit to 24 points early in the third quarter but the Europeans couldn't get any defensive stops and Irving continued his sharp-shooting as the lead extended to 39 points.

The only questions left as the Americans headed in the fourth quarter up 105-67 was if they could match the records from the 1994 team.

Read More

Argentina knocked out of FIBA World Cup

Buenos Aires Herald -- Brazil crushed Argentina's dreams for a place in the FIBA World Cup quarter-finals with a 85-65 victory in a clash where the Southamerican rivals left it all on the court.

The Brazilian team, coached by Argentinean Rubén Magnano, will take on Serbia on Wednesday at 6 pm. in the quarter-finals.

Julio Lamas' men had qualified for the last-16 after winning three of their opening five games. Victories against Puerto Rico, Phillippines and Senegal were tempered by reverses to Croatia and Greece, both of which finished above the Argentines who took third place in Group B.

Brazil, meanwhile, had enjoyed a run of four wins and just one loss on their way to an easy qualification from Group A. Only highly-rated hosts Spain, who downed the nation 82-63 in the first phase, prevented the Brazilians from taking a 100 percent record out of the group stages. 

Results from the World Cup Last 16 matches:

-Lithuania 76 New Zealand 71

-Serbia 90 Greece 72

-Turkey 65 Australia 64

-Brazil 85 Argentina 65

Read More

SPAIN 2014: USA, Slovenia, France and Spain reach Quarters

BARCELONA/MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Four sides cleared significant hurdles on Saturday to remain in the hunt for glory at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Defending champions USA rolled to victory over Mexico and then Slovenia edged the Dominican Republic in Barcelona, while in Madrid, France held off a brave comeback bid by Croatia to progress before Spain hammered Senegal.

The outcomes have left the Americans with a Quarter-Final to play against the Slovenians, and one also between France and Spain.

The United States stormed into a 42-27 half-time advantage over Mexico and claimed an 86-63 victory.

Stephen Curry had his best shooting game of the tournament, making six of nine three-balls en route to 20 points.

The USA's perimeter defense did not allow Mexico's vaunted long-range shooting attack to become a factor, with Sergio Valdeolmillos' squad just four of 16.

Gustavo Ayon of Mexico, the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship MVP, did leave a good impression with a 25-point, eight-rebound effort.

Next up for Mike Krzyzewski's USA squad will be a meeting with the Slovenians, who booked a spot in the last eight for the second time in a row with a 71-61 triumph over the Dominican Republic.

Jure Zdovc's squad struggled to put away the Dominicans.

They opened up a 15-point lead in the third quarter only for Orlando Antigua's side to cut the deficit to two in the fourth.

The Dominicans even had possession with an opportunity to pull level or go in front but did not take advantage.

Zoran Dragic helped Slovenia seal victory by making big plays on offense and also defense. He finished with 18 points and four steals.

James Feldeine's 18 points and Jack Martinez's 12 points and 11 rebounds helped the Dominicans in their comeback.

Slovenia lost to the United States in the Group Phases in both 2006 and 2010, and again last month in a warm-up game for the Basketball World Cup.

Now those two sides will meet in the last eight.

France had to hold on at the end of their clash with Croatia but prevailed, 69-64.

Les Bleus broke open a close game in the third quarter and led 46-30 late in the frame but Croatia charged back in the fourth.

A three-pointer from the excellent Bojan Bogdanovic pulled Croatia to within 66-64 just 52 seconds from the death.

He then missed a chance to put Jasmin Repesa's team in front with 24 seconds when he was off target with a shot from the arc.

France made three free-throws to clinch the victory.

Nicolas Batum had 14 points and Evan Fournier 13 for France, while Bogdanovic poured in 27 in defeat.

Spain were big winners over Senegal in the last game of Saturday.

Marc Gasol was among the big contributors with nine points, six rebounds and four assists as the tournament hosts won 89-56.

Spain and France have had some memorable clashes in recent years.

In 2009, the Spaniards beat the previously-unbeaten French in the Quarter-Finals en route to their first EuroBasket title, while in 2010 the French defeated Spain in the Group Phase of the FIBA World Championship.

Spain twice defeated France at EuroBasket 2011, including in the Final, and then beat them again in the Quarter-Finals of the 2012 Olympics.

Last year, France defeated Spain in the Semi-Finals of the EuroBasket in Slovenia before capturing their first European crown.

FIBA

Read More