In the FIBA World Cup semifinals, Germany stunned the U.S. men's basketball team, sending the Americans to the bronze-medal game.
With the help of NBA forwards Franz Wagner and Daniel Theis, Germany defeated the United States 113-111 in Manila to go to its first Olympic or World Championship final (against Serbia on Sunday).
Germany defeated the United States for the first time in their ninth encounter during the Dream Team era (since 1992).
In its two defeats in the World Cup, the United States set a new mark for the most points it has ever surrendered in an Olympic or World Championship game.
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Coach Steve Kerr stated, "This team is incredibly deserving of winning a championship, and we just didn't get it done. Over the past 30 years or more, the game has become more international.
"This year is not 1991 anymore."
It finished seventh in a big tournament four years ago, which was the lowest finish in program history. However, it bounced back to win a fourth straight Olympic title in Tokyo.
The United States plays Canada on Sunday for bronze in an effort to avoid suffering its third consecutive defeat at a major competition since the 2004 Athens Olympics. The mess in Greece prompted changes in American men's basketball.
The best NBA players from the United States aren't participating in the World Cup, continuing a recent pattern. A few foreign celebrities are also missing. This summer will serve as a time of rest between NBA seasons for many players who intend to compete in the Olympics.
The U.S. roster features zero All-NBA players and no one with previous Olympic or international experience for the first time in the Dream Team era. (With the exception of the 1998 Worlds, where the initial roster did have players who fit that requirement but none were selected for the final team due to the NBA lockout.)
Last Sunday, Lithuania defeated the United States 110-104 in group play as the Lithuanians jumped off to a quick 31-12 lead.
Anthony Edwards had a game-high 35 points, but Lithuania outrebounded the Americans 43-27 and made 14 of 25 three-point attempts to defeat the Americans.
In the quarterfinals, the U.S. defeated Italy after recovering.
Germany and the United States played tight until the Germans scored 35 points in the third quarter to grab a 10-point lead in their second-ever world quarterfinal (and first since 2002).
With three minutes left, the U.S. reduced the deficit to 106-103 thanks to Edwards' 23 points but was unable to completely close it.
Germany has never performed as consistently as other European giants like Spain and Lithuania, whose best-known products are Detlef Schrempf and Dirk Nowitzki.
During Nowitzki's playing career, it only ever made it to the 2008 Olympics and has never advanced past the quarterfinals.
