Before Olympia in Paris - Basketball-Spectacle in London: USA beats Germany
World Champion Germany missed the surprising coup right before Olympics in a grand Basketball spectacle in London. The team, captained by Dennis Schröder, lost narrowly to Olympic champions USA with superstar LeBron James, 88:92 (41:48). The US team, with twelve NBA professionals, managed to take revenge successfully after losing in the World Championship semifinals 318 days ago in front of Germany's basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki.
"Twelve tough guys"
Spectacular blocks, thunderous dunks, and a series of three-point shots: The 19,177 fans in the sold-out arena in London saw a few days before the opening of the Olympics everything that basketball has to offer. Schröder (13 points) and Co. held their own again, as they had in the test in Abu Dhabi and at the World Championship last year. However, this time, the individual class of the team around US flag bearer James (20 points), Stephen Curry (13), and Anthony Edwards prevailed.
"I'm extremely excited. To face such a team in my career doesn't happen often. There are twelve tough guys on it," said Franz Wagner (18 points) before the game on ProSeven. The young star of the Orlando Magic plays against all these NBA stars throughout the season but never in such a lineup. And that a German basketball national team game is broadcast in prime time on free TV is rather an exception.
USA shines
Whether Schröder will receive the flagbearer honor, which James is certain to receive at the opening ceremony, remains to be announced on Thursday. Friendly chatting between the two former teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers before the game. Right at the start, Schröder showed confidence and made two quick three-pointers. The USA had trouble getting open looks in the first minutes.
Two three-pointers from Jrue Holiday and the entry of the strong second line with NBA champion Jayson Tatum brought the favorites for the first time clearly in the lead. A 21:4 run allowed the US team, which once again had to do without the injured Kevin Durant, to pull away. However, the anticipated decision was still a long way off. "We've gotten off to a good start, but then we made a few stupid fouls. I'm definitely proud of the team," said Schröder at halftime.
Germany hopes for an ideal farewell for Herbert
The game, which felt like an away game for Schröder due to the numerous fans of the US team, remained close and fiercely contested in the second half. Germany even went back into the lead and didn't let themselves be intimidated by an 8:0 run from the Americans in 48 seconds. With a three-point lead, it went to the final quarter for Germany.
Nowitzki signed jerseys, hats, and smartphones - on the court, he received further excellent entertainment and a duel eye to eye. Only an overwhelming late performance from the 39-year-old James brought the decision in favor of the Olympic champions.
At the Summer Games, the USA is considered an undisputed gold favorite. Germany wants to win the third medal in three years, after the EM bronze in 2022 and the surprising World Championship victory in Manila the previous year, and to give Bundestrainer Gordon Herbert a fitting farewell. For the DBB team, the preliminary round begins in Lille on Saturday (13.30 hours) against outsider Japan. The USA are challenged right from the start on Sunday (17.15 hours) against Vice-World Champion Serbia with NBA star Nikola Jokic.
- Germany's loss in London before the Olympics was a narrow one, with the score being 88:92, against the Olympic champion United States team, led by superstar LeBron James.
- The game in London was played before the opening of the Olympics and saw a sold-out crowd of 19,177 fans, who witnessed spectacular blocks, thunderous dunks, and a series of three-point shots.
- Dennis Schröder, the captain of Germany's team, scored 13 points in the game, with Franz Wagner, the young star of the Orlando Magic, adding 18 points.
- The US team, with 12 NBA professionals, included superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Anthony Edwards.
- The game in London was a rematch for the US team, who had lost to Germany in the World Championship semifinals 318 days ago in front of basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki.
- The US team struggled to get open looks in the first minutes of the game, but the entry of NBA champion Jayson Tatum helped them pull away with a 21:4 run.
- Despite the struggles, Schröder showed confidence, making two quick three-pointers at the start of the game.
- Germany's game against the US team in London felt like an away game due to the numerous fans of the US team, but they remained close and fiercely contested in the second half.
- The US team, without injured Kevin Durant, pulled away with an 8:0 run in 48 seconds, but Germany managed to regain the lead and didn't let themselves be intimidated.
- The fixture against Germany was the US team's first challenge at the Summer Olympics in Abu Dhabi, with Vice-World Champion Serbia, led by NBA star Nikola Jokic, being their next opponent.
