U.S. tops Poland to wrap up seventh place at FIBA
BEIJING — Donovan Mitchell scored 16 factors and handed out 10 assists, Joe Harris scored 14 and the U.S. defeated Poland 87-74 on Saturday for seventh place on the World Cup. Khris Middleton had 13 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists for the People, who will head dwelling with a 6-2 document — but their worst inserting ever in a World Cup, world championship because it was once recognized, or Olympics.
Derrick White scored 12 and Harrison Barnes added 10 for the U.S.
Mateusz Ponitka scored 18 factors, Adam Waczynski had 17 and A.J. Slaughter completed with 15 for Poland (Four-Four), which was within the World Cup for the primary time since 1967.
The People put collectively a 10-Zero run within the first quarter to take a 28-14 lead. Poland began Zero for 13 from Three-point vary, not getting one from past the arc to fall till Michal Sokolowski linked with 1:28 left within the half — and by then, the U.S. lead was 18.
Gregg Popovich’s Workforce USA squad closed out its journey to China with a win and a seventh-place end. Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures
There was little to play for besides satisfaction — and the People had been taking part in with the conclusion that, for a few of them, it simply may very well be their final time carrying the pink, white and blue uniforms with “USA” throughout the chest. The roster for the U.S. journey to the Tokyo Olympics subsequent summer season is prone to look significantly totally different than this one.
It had a lot which means to Poland coach Mike Taylor as effectively. He is an American, who lives in Florida, and mouthed together with the phrases to “The Star-Spangled Banner” when it performed pregame.
His staff wasn’t desperate to stop, both.
Down 17 on the half, Poland made it a really severe sport after intermission. Waczynski’s Three-pointer from the best nook late within the third received Poland inside 54-47, and Lukasz Koszarek had a Three-point strive that will have gotten his staff inside 4 with eight:21 remaining.
TIP-INS
U.S.: Kemba Walker (neck) did not play, becoming a member of Boston Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum (left ankle) and Marcus Sensible (left hand) on the U.S. injured listing. White began in Walker’s place at level guard. … Timing is all the things — the 6-2 document for the U.S. right here was higher than silver-medalist Serbia (5-Four) and bronze-medalist France (6-Three) on the final World Cup. However shedding within the quarterfinals doomed the U.S. medal hopes.
Poland: The staff had three gamers who performed on the Division I stage — Slaughter was a four-year participant at Western Kentucky, guard Karol Gruszecki spent two years at Texas-Arlington and middle Dominik Olejniczak began his profession at Drake, then performed two seasons at Ole Miss and can play this yr at Florida State as a graduate switch. … Poland began Four-Zero in China, then dropped its final 4 video games.
GIVEAWAY ITEMS
Mitchell was the final U.S. participant to go away the court docket within the pre-warmup interval, ending about 45 minutes earlier than sport time. He took off his sneakers and tossed them to a few younger followers within the crowd.
UP NEXT
U.S.: Has already certified for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Poland: Will take part in qualifying for 2020 Tokyo Olympics subsequent yr.