In a thrilling contest filled with suspense and remarkable displays of resilience, Germany managed to halt Latvia's impressive run in the FIBA
In a thrilling contest filled with suspense and remarkable displays of resilience, Germany managed to halt Latvia’s impressive run in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. With an 81-79 victory, Germany secured their ticket to the Semi-Finals in Manila. The game featured seven ties and 15 lead changes and showcased the unwavering determination of both teams.
The spotlight was undoubtedly on Dennis Schroder, the German superstar but he faced formidable defensive efforts from Latvia. Schroder had a challenging night connecting on only 4 of his 26 shot attempts. This marked a significant struggle, with Schroder’s 22 missed shots tying Kirk Penney’s record for the most misses in the history of the World Cup. It’s worth noting that Penney had a 7-of-29 shooting night in 2002 against Russia.
However, despite Schroder’s shooting woes his perseverance and leadership remained evident. In the second half, he managed to find his rhythm and made his first two shots which seemed to ignite a spark in the rest of the team.
The turning point for Germany came with the resurgence of the Wagner brothers. Franz Wagner had missed a significant portion of the World Cup due to injury, re-entered the lineup, and took over ball-handling duties in the fourth quarter. This strategic move ignited an 8-0 run for Germany, capped by a powerful dunk from Moritz Wagner extending their lead to 70-59 with eight minutes left in the game.
Latvia undeterred by an 11-point deficit continued to battle fiercely. Arturs Zagars was a standout performer showcasing his scoring prowess by accumulating 24 points including several remarkable left-handed finishes in traffic. With just over 30 seconds remaining, Zagars’ efforts narrowed the gap to 81-79, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
With the score at 81-79 in favor of Germany, the tension reached its peak. Germany entrusted Dennis Schroder with a critical floater attempt which he narrowly missed. In a swift transition, Davis Bertans a sharpshooter for Latvia seized the opportunity for a game-winning three-pointer. The fate of the match hung in the balance as the shot left Bertans’ hand but it bounced off the rim and went out of bounds as time expired. Latvia came agonizingly close to becoming the first team to reach the Semi-Finals on their debut since Croatia accomplished the feat in 1994.
A notable aspect of Germany’s victory was the depth of their team. Coach Gordie Herbert has developed a squad with an impressive second unit. The German bench outscored their Latvian counterparts by an astonishing margin of 44-6.
Reflecting on this remarkable statistic, Coach Herbert acknowledged the significance of their bench performance emphasizing its pivotal role in securing the win.
For more basketball news click here
Read more: Italy vs Puerto Rico
Read more: Australia vs Georgia
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
Follow Us
