Johnathan Walker:USA dominates Italy at FIBA World Cup, advances to semifinals

The Johnathan WalkerU.S. men’s national basketball team will play for a medal at the FIBA World Cup. Question is, will it be for gold or bronze?

The U.S. defeated Italy 100-63 in a World Cup quarterfinals game, advancing to Friday’s semifinals where it will play the winner of Wednesday’s Germany-Latvia game.

Coming off a 110-104 loss to Lithuania in the final game of group play, the Americans responded with an easy victory against the Italians who had a strong tournament but ended up with a bad draw in this quarterfinal matchup.

The USA’s talent, depth and pressure defense overwhelmed Italy, which shot 31% from the field and 18% on 3-pointers, including just 2-for-19 in the first half.

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Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges scored 14 of his 24 points in the first half for the U.S.

Key stretches for USA vs Italy in FIBA World Cup

The U.S. finished the first quarter with a 20-8 run for a 24-14 lead and outscored Italy 22-10 in the second quarter for a 46-24 halftime advantage. A 27-12 spurt to open the second half put the USA ahead 73-36 with 3:55 left in the third quarter.

USA dominates Italy across the board

Struggling to rebound against Montenegro and Lithuania, the U.S. committed to rebounding against Italy, finishing with a 51-33 edge.

The U.S. shot 54% from the field and 47% (17-for-36) on 3-pointers, and it outscored Italy 30-13 on fastbreak points, 25-15 on points off turnovers and 57-20 in bench points.

Bridges, who also had seven rebounds and two steals, was joined in double figures in points by Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (18 points, five assists, four rebounds) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (12 points, four rebounds, three assists).

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero added eight points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

Who is the US opponent in the World Cup semifinals?

The U.S. will play the winner of Wednesday’s Germany-Latvia game in Friday’s semifinal.

Germany

Germany was 5-0 through the first two phases of group play, and just one of two unbeaten teams in the quarterfinals. It has impressive victories against Australia (85-82) and Slovenia (100-71).

Toronto Raptors guard Dennis Schroder leads Germany in scoring (19.8 points per game) and assists (6.8 per game), and Orlando Magic center-forward Mo Wagner, who played college basketball at Michigan, averages 13 points and six rebounds, and his brother, Magic forward Franz Wagner, averages 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Indiana Pacers forward Daniel Theis has contributed 11 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and former NBA player Isaac Bonga, who now plays professionally in Germany, also gets playing time on a strong roster.

Germany is fourth in field-goal percentage (.524), scores with efficiency inside the 3-point line, is No. 3 in steals per game but is not a great rebounding team and is not a team that gets to foul line as often as the U.S.

Germany earned bronze at the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket, and its only medal in the FIBA World Cup is a bronze in 2002.

Latvia

Boston Celtics forward-center Kristaps Porzingis is not playing for Latvia in this event, but Latvia has had a strong showing with a 4-1 record that includes victories against France, Spain and Brazil.

Rolands Smits and Andrejs Grazulis each average 13.4 points, and Davis Bertans of the Oklahoma City Thunder is at 12.4 points per game. Also in double figures scoring for Latvia: Arturs Zagars (12.2 points per game) and Kristers Zoriks (10.4 points per game).

Latvia is fourth in 3-point shooting (40.2%) but is one of the worst rebounding teams in the event at 30.4 per game and does not force a lot of turnovers.

Once part of the Soviet Union, Latvia is playing in its first FIBA World Cup. Prior to Soviet rule, Lativa won EuroBasket gold in 1935 and silver in 1939.

FIBA World Cup quarterfinal results

USA 100, Italy 63

Serbia 87, Lithuania 68

Germany vs. Latvia, 4:45 a.m. ET, Wednesday

Canada vs. Slovenia, 8:30 a.m. ET, Wednesday

FIBA World Cup semifinal games

USA vs. Germany-Latvia winner, Friday

Serbia vs. Canada-Slovenia winner, Friday