Tag: 2023 FIBA World Cup

Team Serbia roster: Meet the national team fighting for gold at the 2023 FIBA World Cup

Serbia made it to the 2023 FIBA World Cup Finals even without Nikola Jokic.

Canada was long considered one of the two favorites to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but they lost to Serbia in the semifinals.

After the upset victory over Canada on Friday in the Philippines, the Serbian national team will advance to the finals and will face Germany for a chance to win the gold medal in the competition.

Serbia is coached by Svetislav “Kari” Pešić, who has previously coached Barcelona as well as Bayern and Valencia in the Euroleague. He also possesses German citizenship and coached the German national team from 1987 until 1993 and then again in 2012.

His roster at the FIBA World Cup has three NBA players, which is one fewer than his German opponents (4) in the championship game.

Serbia is without key players who could represent the nation, including NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. Others with NBA experience who are eligible to play for Serbia but not on the roster include Vasilije Micic, Milos Teodosic, Boban Marjanovic and Aleksej Pokusevski.

Despite that, however, Serbia currently has the best point differential among all teams in the tournament.

Here are the Serbian players representing their country in this competition.

RELATED: Nikola Jovic sure looks like the centerpiece of a Damian Lillard trade during the FIBA World Cup

2023 FIBA World Cup: How to watch Saturday’s Latvia vs. Lithuania 5-6 classification game

Latvia will looks to finish its 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign on a strong note.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup is nearing its end: Germany and Serbia play the final on Sunday, Sept. 10.

Before then, the final order for the No. 3 to No. 8 spots will be decided. This includes Davis Bertans and Latvia trying to finish as high as fifth to conclude an impressive run.

After beating Italy in its first 5-8 classification game, Latvia will face off against Lithuania. The winner will finish fifth while the loser will finish sixth.

Let’s look at broadcast information and start times for Saturday’s 2023 FIBA World Cup 5-6 classification bracket game between Latvia and Lithuania.

PHOTOS: Best images from Canada’s 95-86 loss to Serbia in 2023 FIBA World Cup semifinals

The best photos from Canada’s 2023 FIBA World Cup semifinals loss to Serbia:

Canada’s historic 2023 FIBA World Cup run came to a close on Friday with its 95-86 loss to Serbia in the semifinals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting, nine assists and two rebounds in the loss. Lu Dort had three points and three rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

Serbia was dominant throughout, essentially leading for most of the game.

With the loss, Canada falls a win shy of playing in its first World Cup final. Instead, it will play the United States for the bronze medal.

Let’s look at some of the best photos from Canada’s nine-point loss to Serbia.

Team Germany roster: Meet the national team that beat Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World Cup

Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner are not the only NBA players on this team.

Although the United States was considered the favorite to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup, they lost to Germany in the semifinals.

After the upset victory over Team USA on Friday in the Philippines, the German national team will advance to the finals and will face Serbia for a chance to win the gold medal in the competition.

Germany is coached by Gordon Herbert, who led Germany to win a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2022. His roster at the FIBA World Cup has four NBA players, more than any other nation except for just Team USA (12) as well as Australia (9) and Canada (7).

This team, also known as Die Mannschaft, is currently the only undefeated nation remaining in the tournament. Here are the players representing their country in this competition.

Austin Reaves did the three to the head celebration for Carmelo Anthony, who saluted back on Twitter

Austin Reaves and Carmelo Anthony were teammates on the Lakers.

During the 2023 FIBA World Cup semifinal match between Team USA and Germany, Austin Reaves had a perfect celebration after a 3-pointer.

After connecting on a shot from beyond the arc, Reaves hit the “three to the head” celebration popularized by Carmelo Anthony. The two players were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers when Reaves was a rookie in 2021-22.

Anthony, who was captain of Team USA during the FIBA World Cup in 2006, was at the game in Manila. He was attending the tournament in the Philippines as FIBA’s World Cup Global Ambassador. Other ambassadors include Pau Gasol (Spain) and Luis Scola (Argentina).

Right after the 3-pointer connected, the three-time Olympic gold medalist was shown on the TV broadcast.

Anthony clearly saw the tribute from Reaves and he saluted back with a post on Twitter.

This was an awesome moment for Reaves, who has played well for Team USA during the tournament.

Reaves finished with 21 points but Team USA ultimately was upset by Germany, 113-111, and will not advance to the World Cup championship game.

Instead, Team USA will face Canada for a chance to win the bronze.

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2023 FIBA World Cup: SGA struggles as Canada loses to Serbia in semifinals, 95-86

Canada’s 2023 FIBA World Cup run ends with a whimper in 95-86 semifinals loss to Serbia.

Dribbling past halfcourt, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had the ball snatched from him, giving Serbia the easy transition layup to start the fourth quarter.

The play exemplified the night Canada had. The best FIBA player struggled to get the ball past halfcourt in a must-win quarter.

Canada — and Gilgeous-Alexander — struggled in its 95-86 elimination loss to Serbia. The loss knocked Canada out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup tournament as it finished a win shy of the final.

Serbia set the tone early; it led Canada 23-15 following the first quarter. The lead grew to 52-39 at halftime. Canada managed to cut only one point from its halftime deficit in the third quarter before a 7-2 run by Serbia in the opening two minutes of the fourth quarter put this one out of reach.

The Oklahoma City Thunder duo were quiet in Canada’s loss. They combined for 18 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Outside of a few second-half spurts, Gilgeous-Alexander was held in check by Serbia.

In 34 minutes, Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting, nine assists and two rebounds. He also went 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. He struggled with fouls in the first half with three calls that went against him in the opening two quarters.

Dort played 19 minutes off the bench in the loss as he scored three points on 1-of-4 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. Much like Gilgeous-Alexander, he also struggled to avoid foul trouble with four fouls.

Serbia — who are without two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Thunder teammates Aleksej Pokusevski and Vasilije Micic — has a chance to further strengthen its stance as an international powerhouse.

The loss ends Canada’s FIBA World Cup run. It will play for the bronze medal on Sunday, Sept. 10 against the loser of the United States vs. Germany matchup.

Let’s look at instant reactions and highlights from Canada’s nine-point loss.

PHOTOS: Best images from Latvia’s 87-82 classification win against Italy

The best photos from Davis Bertans’ and Latvia’s win against Italy:

After being eliminated from the 2023 FIBA World Cup in its quarterfinal loss to Germany, Latvia looks to finish strongly in its summer campaign in the 5-8 classification games.

Davis Bertans and Latvia will get a chance to finish as high as fifth in the final standings by virtue of its 87-82 win against Italy, which was eliminated in the quarterfinals with its loss to the United States.

Bertans was limited to 19 minutes, in which he had nine points on 3-of-7 shooting, five rebounds and two assists. He shot 2-of-6 from 3.

Let’s look at some of the best photos from Latvia’s five-point win.

2023 FIBA World Cup: Latvia advances to 5-6 classification game with 87-82 win over Italy

Davis Bertans was limited to under 20 minutes on the second game of a back-to-back for Latvia.

Following its elimination from the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Latvia looks to finish its campaign on a strong note.

In its first 5-8 classification game, Latvia defeated Italy, 87-82. This comes a day after both teams lost in their quarterfinal matchups.

After a 26-18 deficit following the first quarter, Latvia outscored Italy 69-56 in the remainder of the game.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Davis Bertans was limited to 19 minutes following his heroic effort in Latvia’s loss to Germany. He finished with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting, five rebounds and two assists. He also shot 2-of-6 from 3.

With the win, Latvia moves on to the 5-6 classification game to face the winner of the Lithuanian-Slovenia matchup on Saturday, Sept. 9.

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2023 FIBA World Cup: How to watch Friday’s Canada vs. Serbia semifinals game

Broadcast information on Friday’s semifinals matchup between Canada and Serbia can be found here:

The 2023 FIBA World Cup has advanced to its semifinals, which means only four teams remain to crown a winner of the 32-team international tournament.

The two semifinal games will be played on Friday, Sept. 8. The Oklahoma City Thunder have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort left participating in the World Cup for Canada.

Canada will face Serbia in the semifinals with the winner facing the winner of the United States-Germany matchup in the 2023 FIBA World Cup final.

Canada advanced to the semifinals with its win against Slovenia in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Let’s look at broadcast information and start times for Friday’s 2023 FIBA World Cup semifinal game between Canada and Serbia.

2023 FIBA World Cup: How to watch Thursday’s Italy vs. Latvia 5-8 classification game

Latvia will play for pride as it plays the FIBA World Cup’s 5-8 classification games.

A day after being eliminated from the 2023 FIBA World Cup quarterfinals, both Latvia and Italy will turn around and play in the 5-8 classification bracket.

While the semifinals play out, the losers of the quarterfinals will match up to determine the No. 5 to No. 8 final standings of the international tournament.

Davis Bertans and Latvia will get a chance to improve their spot in the standings after they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Germany in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Italy suffered a blowout loss to the United States that resulted in its exit from the knockout tournament.

Let’s look at broadcast information and start times for Thursday’s 2023 FIBA World Cup 5-8 classification bracket game between Latvia and Italy.