The USA is already in the semifinals. Those Steve Kerrs who removed the mandrel stumbled against Lithuania last Sunday and devastated an unrecognizable Italy (63-100), who was never a rival. A more serious and mature image that warms up at the right moment with Mikal Bridges as conductor. The Nets striker finished with 24 points.
The solidity of Italy was evident from the start. A team dealing damage from outside and near the basket. And the United States began to take notice with a slugfest. It would be the only time in the duel. TripleThe factor that suffocated the Americans so much in this tournament would be the key to victory, 11-20. In addition to being a large part, it was also a declaration of intent. Brunson and Ingram referenced a first quarter that was coming to an end 14-24 in favor of Kerr.
Bridges and Edwards released
In the second quarter, the rhythm calmed down. Melli came up for the Europeans, and the United States struggled to generate anything. Success from the outside turned to failure, and they tried to strike harder from the inside—Bridges and Edwards to the head. Italy proposed various solutions to the drought Often, Datome and Procida, rarely used in the World Cup, were on the track, but it wasn’t enough. The Americans stepped on the gas and didn’t look back. 24-46, practically doubled on the scoreboard and marched into the dressing rooms. The exterior of the Nets, the former Villanova University, is the most prominent, with 14 points at rest.
The basket was changed in the third round with quick possessions, and shortly after, with a lighted bridge, he scored two three-pointers (one with technique) to extend the distance even further. A few attempts at this by Fontecchio and Tonut seemed to die on the shore. They were all protagonists. It took minutes to make amends for what happened on Sunday. From there, an annotation Festival ended the third quarter at 44-83.
With the game closed since the break, the last few minutes served to rouse the crowd with the ensuing rounds of Haliburton, which ended with a 6/8. The United States is picking up the pace and finding the right synergies at the right time. Bridges led the landslide win 63-100, but Ingram, Banchero, and Reaves returned to find sensations, essential for the semifinals against Germany (my favorite) and Latvia. For Italy, Fontecchio was the most outstanding at 11.
63: Italy (14+10+20+19): Fontecchio (18), Melli (5), Polonara (1), Spissu (8), Tonut (11); first five: Datome (3), Pajola (-), Procida (4), Ricci (5), Severini (4), Diouf (4), Spanish (-).
100: United States (24+22+37+17): Bridges (24), Brunson (9), Edwards (3), Hart (5), Jackson Jr. (2); the starting quintet: Banchero (8), Haliburton (18), Ingram (8), Johnson (-), Kessler (4), Portis Jr. (7), Reaves (12).
Referees: Julio Anaya (PAN), Ademir Zurapovic (BOS), and Juan Fernández (ARG).
Incident: Quarterfinal match of the Basketball World Championship, held at the Manila Mall of Asia Arena (Philippines).
