“They came, they saw, they survived.
The United States got their first real test of the FIBA World Championship on Monday night and edged Brazil 70-68 as Leandro Barbosa’s potential game-tying lay-up at the buzzer stayed out.
In probably the most thrilling encounter between the two countries since the famous Oscar-inspired upset of the USA at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis 23 years ago, the Brazilians and USA gave international basketball a game to treasure.
After blowing out Croatia, 106-78, and defeating Slovenia, 99-77, the Americans ran into a Brazil team that hadn’t looked in top form in their wins over Iran and Tunisia.
But the Brazilians turned their game up a notch in the showdown of teams from the FIBA Americas.
Getting big games from their leading stars, but also from Marcus Vinicius, a surprise starter who hit all three of his attempts from long range in the first half when scoring 11 of his 16 points.
What Ruben Magnano’s team did well was find the open man when they were double-teamed, while also executing the pick-and-roll and give-and-go.
They ran at times, too, yet didn’t get into a running game with the United States – something they didn’t want to do.
Vinicius and Brazil shot the ball extremely well in the first half, hitting seven of 11 shots from long range but also 11 of 20 inside the arc.
Barbosa had eight points and Tiago Splitter was every bit the equal, if not better on some occasions, than the Americans who were defending him.
In the second half, the Brazilians cooled off considerably, but the USA also missed shots.
In the final minutes, Mike Krzyzewski’s team got its noses in front and looked as if they would go on to win.
After Chauncey Billups scored on a drive for a 70-66 lead, though, Barbosa went to the other end and scored on a drive to the basket just 33 seconds from the end.
Billups took a three-pointer at the other end with 10 seconds to go but missed, and Alex Garcia snared the rebound.
Brazil brought the ball up the floor and got it into the hands of their excellent Marcelo Huertas, who handled much of the American pressure all game long and made many of the passes that led to his team’s scores.
He drove into the lane and drew a foul from Kevin Durant.
Huertas’ first free-throw hit the front of the rim and stayed out, and Magnano instructed him to intentionally miss the second.
His shot with a low trajectory hit the rim and bounced to the left corner where Huertas chased it down.
Durant, who had a game-high 27 points, hustled over to attempt a block of his three-pointer.
Instead, Huertas passed to Barbosa under the basket.
The guard leapt high and shot the ball off the backboard but it dropped, hit the rim and stayed out.
America’s players and bench breathed a sigh of relief before both teams congratulated each other on a fantastic game.”
Read post game quotes and more via FIBA.com
