FIBA World Cup 2014 USA vs Serbia Final Score, Game Highlights & Recap: Kyrie Irving Leads Win
Despite losing some of their best players prior to the start of the FIBA World Cup in Spain, Team USA proved that they are still the best team after beating Serbia with a 129-92 score to clinch the top spot in the tournament.
Team USA, under coach Mike Krzyzewski, took a 33-point lead against its opponent.
An SB Nation report noted that the U.S. team is the first to win by more than 20 points in any FIBA championship event. It added that the American players were able to score 100 points just 28 minutes in the finals games on Sunday. Kyrie Irving was blazing with 26 points during the first 25 minutes of the game. SB Nation said that he hit all of his 3-point shots, earning him the MVP title.
According to a report by The Guardian, the hyper-aggressve Irving led the team in making a 28-6 run during the first quarter. The Cleveland Cavaliers' point guard made 15 points in just 10 minutes giving his team the lead.
His effort was supported with the aggressive play of James Harden who finished with 23 points. During the start of the game, it looked like Serbia was going to give the Americans a run for the championship as Team USA was having a slow start.
But SB Nation said that Team USA found the best center in DeMarcus Cousins, who sealed their victory with 11 points and nine rebounds, which provided great defense as well as offense.
A similar report by The Guardian said that the team proved their skills and talent even without having their All-Star forwards, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, who withdrew from participating in the World Cup.
This recent win is the fifth world title for the U.S. while the silver medal is the first of any kind for the Serbian team.
Serbia used to be a part of Yugoslavia, a country which has won five titles in the tournament.
The losing team, according to SB Nation, still showed immense talent as star players, Nikola Kalinic and Nemanha Bjelica, lead the team with 28 points each. It was also noted that they did their best every quarter despite encountering foul troubles.
But the spirit of the American team remains the strongest as they proceed with hope in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. It was noted by The Guardian that Team USA won 63 straight games: 45 in official FIBA events and 18 in exhibition plays.
This feat, according to some reports, may encourage star players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul to join future World Cup games as the win boosted Team USA's records and placed them in the limelight once more.