The undefeated run of Team USA at the FIBA World Cup came to an end on Sunday with a loss to Lithuania. Despite being 14.5-point favorites, Team USA was outplayed in the first quarter, losing 31-12, and struggled to recover. Lithuania, led by Jonas Valanciunas, had a balanced attack and secured the victory. Anthony Edwards was the leading scorer for Team USA, contributing 35 points and five 3-pointers, but lacked support from his teammates. Lithuania’s dominance on the glass and their impressive 3-point shooting contributed to Team USA’s first loss in the tournament.
Despite the defeat, Team USA’s loss does not have much impact. They have already qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris due to their top-two finish among teams from the American continents. Their 4-0 record prior to the Lithuania game secured their spot in the knockout stage. The only difference is that Team USA will be the No. 2 seed instead of winning Group J. They will face Italy in the quarterfinals.
The upcoming game against Italy is expected to have some emotional undertones, as one of Team USA’s reserves, Paolo Banchero, was considered to play for Italy in this tournament. The Italian federation expressed disappointment in Banchero’s decision to play for Team USA instead.
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Despite the loss, Team USA is still favored to win the tournament in the knockout stage. However, their dream of an undefeated run has been shattered. The close victory over Montenegro and their small lineup raise concerns about their ability to compete against bigger teams. The defense is inconsistent, and the offense heavily relies on individual playmaking. Team USA will need to fight hard in the remaining games if they want to capture the gold medal in this tournament.
