Schroder, Germany fall to 0-2 in FIBA World Cup
Thunder guard Dennis Schroder and Germany suffered their second consecutive close loss in the FIBA World Cup Tuesday.
With a 70-68 loss to the Dominican Republic, Germany remained in the bottom half of Group G, sinking to a 0-2 record in group play.
A defensive rebound by Paul Zipser in the final minute of the game set up a potential tying shot for Schroder with 31 seconds on the clock. The point guard, who shot 5-of-18 from the field, missed the driving floater as a sea of Dominican Republic jerseys closed in on him. Thanks to misses on the perimeter by both sides, the score held for the final half minute of the game.
“It was a huge battle, very physical ,” German coach Henrik Rodl said. “I think we had our nerves not 100 percent under control and were shooting the ball really bad, had open looks. It was open until the end, and to win games you have to make shots.”
Schroder recorded seven assists and led the team with 20 points, but he shot just 30.8 percent (4 of 13) from 2-point range.
Germany's offense flowed the best when Schroder drove to the rim with the option to score or kick a pass out to the perimeter.
But Germany shot just 15.8 percent (3 of 19) from 3-point range – Schroder made one of those 3-pointers in five tries. Schroder began to settle for contested layups, the 6-foot-1 guard muscling through taller players. At best, that approach earned him a 3-point play. But it also diminished the efficiency of that shot.
Germany experimented with having Schroder play off the ball late in the third quarter. His production quieted in that role. He scored just one field goal and didn't record an assist in the third period.
Germany's nail- biter of a loss to the Dominican Republic came two days after it also lost by fewer than five points to France in its opening game of the World Cup.
USA 93, Turkey 92
The United States remained at the top of Group E Tuesday
with a thrilling 93-92 overtime win over Turkey.
Free throws decided the game.
First, with a fraction of a second togo in regulation, Jayson Tatum made two of three free throws to tie the game at 81 apiece.
Then in overtime Turkey led 92-91 with 14.6 seconds to go, and the United States committed what could have been a fatal turnover.
Dogas Balbay stripped Myles Turner of the ball, and Joe Harris quickly fouled Balbay. Due to international rules, it was called an unsportsmanlike for not playing the ball. Turkey was awarded two free throws and the ball. Balbay missed both foul shots.
In Turkey's next possession, Cedi Osman missed two free throws.
Team USA' sK hr is Middleton wouldn't make the same mistake. He drained two foul shots with two seconds on the clock to give the United States the 93-92 lead.
Including its win over Turkey, Team USA has already beaten the top competition in the group, after opening the World Cup with an 88-67 win over the Czech Republic. The Americans have only Japan left to play in the group phase. Japan lost its first two games.