Team USA Advances to Quarterfinals of FIBA World Cup Despite Loss to Lithuania
Team USA has secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, despite suffering a shocking defeat at the hands of Lithuania in their final game of the second round. The Americans will now enter the knockout stages with a must-win mentality, as they face Italy on Tuesday in Manila.
Both Team USA and Italy had similar records of 4-1 in the first and second rounds of the tournament. However, Italy’s journey to the quarterfinals was far more dramatic, as they managed to secure their spot through several closely contested games. One of Italy’s notable victories was a crucial 78-76 upset over Serbia. In terms of point differential, Italy stands at plus-34, while Team USA leads with plus-109.
With the quarterfinals approaching, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming clash between Team USA and Italy:
Team USA vs. Italy
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 5
Time: 8:40 a.m. ET
Location: Mall of Asia Arena — Manila, Philippines
TV channel: ESPN 2
Live stream: fubo (try for free)
Odds: Team USA -13.5 | O/U: 175.5
Losing to Lithuania ultimately benefited Team USA, as they found themselves on the easier side of the bracket. Instead of facing Serbia, the most efficient offensive team in the tournament, in the quarterfinals, they will now battle against Italy.
One of the key threats for Italy is Simone Fontecchio, the leading scorer for the team, averaging 18.4 points per game. Team USA will need to focus on rebounding, as Italy enters the quarters as the second-best rebounding team in the competition. In the last two games, the Americans struggled on the glass, allowing Montenegro and Lithuania to take advantage of second-chance points.
Looking ahead, it is evident that this is not Team USA’s “A-Team,” and they will not have an easy path to the gold medal, as they might in the Olympics. However, their talent surpasses that of Italy, and they will be determined to prove themselves after the recent loss.
Prediction: Team USA -13.5
Despite the narrow victory against Montenegro and the defeat to Lithuania, Team USA remains a strong favorite. Their superior talent should lead them to a convincing win over Italy in the quarterfinals.