Group USA beats Turkey in OT, Tatum injured

SHANGHAI — Group USA was anticipated to face some actual checks within the FIBA World Cup, nevertheless it wasn’t anticipated to have a lot bother passing its first one.

A assured and high-energy Turkey, the No. 17-ranked workforce on the planet, gave the People a scare earlier than Group USA yanked away a 93-92 victory in additional time.

Khris Middleton was the hero, making two free throws with 2.1 seconds left, the final of his team-high 15 factors.

Turkey missed 4 consecutive free throws (two by Cedi Osman and two by Dogus Balbay) with 9 seconds left that might have clinched the win.

USA’s Kemba Walker goes to the basket as Turkey’s Ersan Ilyasova tries to dam his shot on the FIBA World Cup. Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Photographs

The People advance to the second spherical of the World Cup, which is able to begin this weekend in Shenzhen. Their profitable streak in World Cup and Olympic play reached 44 video games.

Kemba Walker scored 5 of his 14 factors in additional time and obtained a steal and drew a cost down the stretch that helped Group USA escape.

“We’re enthusiastic about this win,” Walker mentioned. “That was an unbelievable recreation to be part of. On the identical time, there may be a lot room for enchancment. We’ve a bunch of younger guys, we’re a brand new workforce, we’re nonetheless studying. We’re nonetheless studying one another. However I believe tonight, that win, it is going to assist us, you realize, take this workforce to a different degree.”

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Long run, although, there are actual issues, beginning with Jayson Tatum, who needed to be helped off the ground with a sprained left ankle on the play through which Middleton was fouled. Tatum beforehand made two of three free throws with zero.1 of a second left in regulation after being fouled on a Three-pointer. Tatum will probably be reevaluated Wednesday.

It was precisely the kind of recreation the People feared. Their offense tightened up, their massive males had been outplayed and the opposition had no worry from the opening tip.

Walker, Donovan Mitchell and Tatum shot Eight-of-32 in regulation, and the workforce’s normal lack of firepower is a priority going ahead.

With the sport within the stability within the closing minute of the fourth quarter, Gregg Popovich was so uncertain of his massive males that he took all of them off the ground and left undersized Tatum and Middleton to play heart. Ersan Ilyasova, an influence ahead within the NBA however taller than any American, made back-to-back baskets, together with a putback.

Taking out heart Myles Turner, who had some good moments, was an indication of Popovich’s lack of belief in his massive males.

It was additionally telling that the U.S. could not get a fifth foul on Ilyasova, Turkey’s finest participant, at the same time as he performed the sport’s closing 9 minutes with 4 fouls. The People simply did not have the flexibility to go at him, and he completed with 23 factors.

Relive Group USA’s nail-biter towards Turkey on the World Cup. Watch on ESPN+

Turkey bothered Group USA with its inside dimension, difficult pictures vigorously and walling off the rim. This was a priority for the workforce getting into the event, nevertheless it wasn’t anticipated that Turkey, which does not have rock star inside defenders, can be the workforce to grind the U.S. to a halt.

Time and again, American gamers drove into visitors and had been unable to complete over our bodies in crimson uniforms, though Turkey did not document its first block till late within the third quarter, when Group USA was already a woeful 7-of-23 on 2-point pictures, most of these coming within the paint. General, the workforce shot 13-of-37 contained in the Three-point arc.

This could possibly be a problem later within the event, particularly if the U.S. finally ends up dealing with high challenger Serbia. That workforce has 4 gifted gamers 6-10 or taller: Nikola Jokic, Boban Marjanovic, Nemanja Bjelica and Miroslav Raduljica. Serbia has outscored its opposition by 105 factors within the first two video games and is taking pictures an eye-opening 70%. Proper now, although, the People aren’t ready to be waiting for Serbia. They simply have to attempt to piece collectively some offensive rhythm.