In a commanding performance, the United States defeated Italy 100-63, securing their place in the FIBA World Cup semifinals.
The quarterfinal clash didn’t start poorly for the “Azzurri,” who were competitive in the first five minutes. However, a lack of offensive inspiration and excellent shooting by their opponents meant that the Italian team was already chasing a double-digit deficit after just 10 minutes.
It was a prelude to disaster for Gianmarco Pozzecco’s squad. Things didn’t work well in both offense and defense, and the USA led 46-24 at halftime, marching confidently towards the semifinals.
USA ROUT ITALY IN A LOPSIDED QUARTER-FINAL πͺ#FIBAWC x #WinForUSA πΊπΈ
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 π (@FIBAWC) September 5, 2023
Italy’s fortunes didn’t improve in the third quarter either. Mikal Bridges found his rhythm, scoring 22 points and extending the lead to a maximum of 29 points. The Americans didn’t stop there; they wanted to decisively seal the game. In the end, they waited out the final 10 minutes with a 39-point lead, erasing any doubts about the outcome of this match. The USA secured their place among the top four teams in the tournament in an authoritative manner.
The leading scorers for the USA were Bridges with 24 points and Tyrese Haliburton with 18 points. Simone Fontecchio led Italy with 18 points, while Stefano Tonut contributed 11 points.
The USA will face the winner of the Germany-Latvia duel in the semifinals.
With this victory by Steve Kerr’s team, there’s an opportunity for the Serbian national team to secure a spot in the Olympics, provided that Canada defeats Slovenia. The direct path to Paris is reserved for the two best European teams, which would automatically happen if the USA and Canada both make it to the final four of the tournament.
The “Eagles” delivered a convincing performance against Lithuania in the first quarterfinal showdown.