Germany stunned the United States, 113-111, in the semifinals of the FIBA World Cup on Friday night in Manila.
The United States, perennial gold medal favorites in this men’s tournament, were done in by a porous perimeter defense and a lack of rebounding. Germany was led by guard Andreas Obst, who scored 24 points, and forward Franz Wagner, who added 22 points, en route to the biggest basketball win in German history.
Germany repeatedly pummeled the United States in the paint, exploiting the United States’ choice to play with smaller lineups. Germany grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, compared with seven for the United States. It also shot well from outside, going 13 for 30 from 3-point range.
Germany outscored the United States by 35-24 in a pivotal third quarter, and maintained a double-digit lead for much of the rest of the game. But a late flurry by the United States, led by forward Anthony Edwards, cut the lead to 3 points with just over three minutes left. Edwards led the Americans with 23 points but missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game with two minutes left.
Germany remains the only unbeaten team in the tournament. It was the second loss for the United States, which had also been upset by Lithuania earlier this week.
For the United States, the tournament did not attract many of the top stars from the N.B.A. But the team will almost assuredly look different for the Paris Olympics in 2024. This edition of the team will play only for a bronze medal against Canada, while Germany clinched a spot in the gold medal game against Serbia.
In the 2019 tournament, the United States had an even more disappointing run, failing to place in the top three after a quarterfinal loss to France, after having won the tournament in 2014 and 2010. Before the loss to France, the United States had won 19 straight World Cup games.