USA Defeat Germany 99-91, Go 5-0 in USA Basketball Showcase

20 August 2023

USA 99, GER 91

The United States finished the USA Basketball Showcase games with an undefeated record after defeating Germany, 99-91, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The USA Basketball Showcase spanned three continents (USA, ESP, UAE) and saw the USA Men’s National Team take on some of the top teams in the world as it prepares for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup.

The U.S. will now begin its quest for a sixth FIBA Men’s World Cup gold medal. Seeded in Group C, the team will face New Zealand in its opening game Aug. 26.

View the USA-Germany box score here.

TEAM NOTES

Historically Speaking: The USA now owns a 13-0 record against Germany.

The U.S. finished 5-0 in USA Basketball Showcase games. The team has gone undefeated in pre-World Cup exhibitions in 6-of-7 cycles and has a 28-1 record since 1994.

Running It Up: The USA struggled to find its rhythm early but surged back in the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded leads and ended the first quarter tied at 26. In the second, the Germans used a 9-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game (52-42). The Americans trailed at half, 46-54.

In the third, Tyrese Haliburton scored 11 points and converted on three 3-pointers (4-4 FG, 3-3 3FG) to lead the U.S. on an 18-3 (3:15-0:27) run and bring the game within one score (73-74). The team still trailed however, 73-77, heading into the final frame.

In the fourth, the Americans took control of the game after the 6:58 mark by holding the Germans scoreless until the final minute of play. The USA’s 18-0 run gave the team its biggest lead (95-86) and catapulted them to the win. Anthony Edwards scored 12 points in the quarter.

Block Party: The U.S. recorded 10 blocks tonight, eight of which came in the first half. The team tied its single-game high set against Puerto Rico.

Shot Chart: The team shot 46.0% (34-73 FG) from the field and 44.8% (13-29 3FG) from beyond the arc. They held Germany to 40.5% (32-79 FG) from the field and 29.0% (9-31 3FG) from 3.

PLAYER NOTES

The Ant Bully: Edwards finished with a team-high 34 points (11-21 FG, 4-8 3FG, 8-8 FT), six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Tonight was his first game scoring 30+ points and second-straight with 20+ points.

Edwards finished the USA Basketball Showcase leading the team in scoring (19.2 ppg) and takeaways (2.0 spg).

Action Jackson: Jaren Jackson Jr. recorded seven points (3-7 FG), a team-high eight rebounds and six blocks. His six rejections were the most by any U.S. player in a single game in five exhibition games.

Jackson had seven total blocks coming into the game, nearly doubling his total through the first four exhibitions.

Talking about Ty: Haliburton scored a personal-best 16 points (5-7 FG, 3-4 3FG, 3-3 FT) to go along with three assists. Haliburton contributed 11 points in the third quarter.

Sweet 16: Austin Reaves tallied a personal-best 16 points (5-9 FG, 2-2 3FG, 4-7 FT). He led the team in 3-point shooting in the USA Basketball Showcase by hitting 57.1% (8-14 3FG) of his 3s.