In a match in which it was demonstrated why both teams – from the outset the big favorites – have been dropped from the competition, the Serbs, despite their serious gaps in defense, were superior at all times to the Americans, very unequal in their game .
Both were competing for the places between fifth and eighth of the competition but they could well have been in the final because of the desire they seemed to show to clarify who was superior.
The first quarter was a memorable review of the Balkans who, led by a Bogdanovic in a state of grace, established a partial of 32-7, no less than 25 points of advantage in ten minutes.
His triples – along with those of Micic, Iovic or Bjelica – fell like ripe apples in the basket of the American team, who attended in astonishment as the scoreboard scored.
All the baskets that did not enter Serbia against Spain from 6.75 meters did so today in these first minutes, while Popovich’s pupils saw their balls slam one after another against the basket, when they did not fall directly outside.
That the still reigning world champion scored just 7 points in ten minutes gave an idea of his poor image and heralded a humiliation of colossal proportions.
However, in the second half the Serbs squandered the great advantage they had gained with unforgivable defensive oversights, which this time the now inspired Kemba Walker and Barnes took advantage of to almost turn the score around.
Walker became the driving force behind the American comeback, rebounding incessantly on defense, distributing assists and sending the Serbian net hitting three-pointers.
All this allowed them to go to rest with only 4 points on the scoreboard (44-40).
Serbia returned, however, to take the reins after the break and moved away up to fifteen points, although a few minutes later they showed their defensive sneaks again, which those of Popovich took advantage of to get to only three goals at the end of the third period.
Irregularity on both sides remained the keynote of the game until the end and, despite being close behind, the United States never took the lead and rarely gave the impression of being able to win the match.
A 3-pointer by Walker with less than a minute remaining and narrowing the gap to four points triggered nervousness among the Serbs, but it was too late and talent was lacking to seize the opportunity.
– Data sheet:
94 – Serbia (32 + 12 + 27 + 23): Bogdan Bogdanovic (28), Nikola Jokic (9), Stefan Jovic (9), Vladimir Lucic (15), Nikola Milutinov (7), Nemanja Bjelica (8), Vladimir Lucic (15), Boban Marjanovic (8), Vasilije Micic (10), Nikola Milutinov (7) and Marko Simonovic (-).
89 – United States (7 + 33 + 28 + 21): Harrison Barnes (22), Joe Harris (4), Donovan Mitchell (9), Myles Turner (10), Kemba Walker (18), Jaylen Brown (4), Brook López (2), Khris Middleton (16), Mason Plumlee (2), Derrick White (2).
Referees: Maranho Cristiano (Brazil), Yu Jung (China), Luis Castillo (Spain). Without eliminated.
Incidents: Match for positions 5 to 8 of the Basketball World Cup played at the Dongguan Basketball Center. With capacity for 15,000 spectators. EFE