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26.08.2002
USA
World Championship Team Fights Off Germany 91-73
Paced by 15 points from current Indiana Pacer and former Portland
Trail Blazer Jermaine O'Neal, the 2002 USA Basketball Men's World Championship
Team (2-0) closed out the final 2:19 of its exhibition game against Germany
with a 12-0 run to bust open a tight game and collect a 91-73 victory Sunday
night at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. The game was the USA's
second and final exhibition tune up before they play in the FIBA World
Basketball Championship that is being held Aug. 29-Sept. 8 in Indianapolis,
Ind.
"I
think defensively we were very good. That was kind of a similar thing against
China, we were pretty consistent almost every possession defensively. But the
offensive end of the court seems to have sluggishness to it. Too much dribbling
to it, maybe too much NBA basketball to it and not enough movement, picking and
swinging the ball," said USA head coach George Karl. "We're not playing
beautiful basketball right now, but we've won both games fairly easily, in fact
controlled both games fairly easy. I think we're going to shoot the ball
better, I think we're going to pass the ball better and because of that I think
we're going to play better offense."
In
a game that the USA led for the majority of the game, the U.S. was unable to
shake free of the feisty German squad.
The USA was in control of the contest midway through the fourth
quarter, owning a 77-61 lead with 5:32 to play. But, behind six points from NBA
All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, Germany went on a 10-0 run to cut the USA's advantage
to 79-73 with 2:19 to play. Andre Miller (Los Angeles Clippers) stopped the
bleeding by making a pair of free throws and Germany made a turnover on five of
its next six possessions and the USA got a basket off the turnover from Finley,
then O'Neal and Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns) each added a pair of baskets as the
USA sealed the 91-73 win.
O'Neal finished with 15 points and five rebounds and three blocked
shots, while Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks) and Marion each accounted for 14
points, and Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics) scored 12 more in the win. The USA
rebounding effort was headed by Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) who claimed
seven, while Andre Miller and Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets)each handed out
seven assists. Nowitzki led all scorers with 23 points, but shot just 8-of-22
from the floor.
USA veteran Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers), suffered a sprain right
ankle with 7:17 to play in the third quarter and did not return to the game.
Miller played 14 minutes before the injury and finished with 8 points of 2-of-3
shooting from 3-point. He is listed as day-to-day.
"I
pumped faked and drove on my defender and went to take a shot and came down on
and rolled on his foot. It's been a while since I sprained my ankle so its
really hard for me to gage the severity of it. It's pretty sore but I'm going
to take it day-to-day and definitely be ready by Thursday. That's the key, I
need to get as close to 100 percent by Thursday as possible," said Reggie
Miller.
With seven points coming from the hands of Finley, the USA jumped out
ahead 14-5 with 4:57 left in the opening quarter. Finley made his second
3-pointer of the quarter with 31.3 seconds to play in the opening period and at
the end of one the U.S. led 23-15. Midway through the second quarter the USA
lead stood at 36-23 following back-to-back baskets by Marion, but Germany
fought back to trail 43-34 at half.
Germany twice cut the deficit to five points in the third quarter.
With the USA ahead 58-50 and 2:05 left in the third, Pierce got hot and scored
eight of the USA's next 10 points as the American capped the quarter with a
10-3 run to grab a 68-53 lead.
The Americans finished shooting 50.0 percent (35-70 FGs) from the
field, and made 7-of-18 3-pointers. Germany out rebounded the USA 36-35, but
managed to shoot just 35.4 percent (23-65 FGs) overall and just 18.2 percent
(2-11 3pt FGs) from 3-point. Germany made 25-of-29 free throws |
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