The Germans got cold in the fourth quarter giving the Italians their chance to win the game.
The Germany men’s national basketball team lost to Italy, 92-82 in Group B play. You can watch highlights on YouTube which I would otherwise embed, but the International Olympic Committee is historically quick to yank highlight videos compared to the NBA and WNBA, so for now, I won’t be embedding them.
This game can and should have been a win for the Germans. They began the game with an early 32-22 lead after the first quarter, withstood a second-quarter comeback by the Italians and maintained their lead in the third. In fact, they led for 28 minutes in the game.
However, the Italians went on a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to steal the game. The box score was rather even between the teams, though the Italians scored 16 points off of 14 German turnovers. That will have to be addressed before the Germans’ next game vs. Nigeria on Wednesday, July 28 at
Washington Wizards guard Issac Bonga scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the game while also making 2-of-4 three pointers and dishing four assists, while Alba Berlin and former Columbia Lions guard Maodo Lo led the team with 24 points and Moritz Wagner added 12 points.
More men’s basketball scores
Here are other scores in the men’s tournament that have happened so far:
- Czech Republic 84, Iran 78 in Group A — Tomas Satoransky only scored 6 points on 2-of-14 shooting but thanks to a 43-33 rebounding margin and not turning the ball over more than the Iranians, the Czechs were able to get by.
- France 83, United States 76 in Group A — Evan Fournier scored 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting and even made the go-ahead three with 57 seconds left over the Americans, who couldn’t make a single field goal in the last four minutes of the game. They were at least able to make most of their free throws.
- Australia 84, Nigeria 67 in Group B — Patty Mills scored 25 points and the Boomer shot 11-of-24 from three to keep D’Tigers in check. Obi Emegano led Nigeria with 12 points.
Group C games begin tomorrow, most importantly with Japan playing Spain at 8 a.m. ET tomorrow. Argentina plays Slovenia at 12:40 a.m. ET.
Go USA 3×3!
The USA is currently tied for first with the Russian Olympic Committee with a 3-0 record in the women’s tournament but are technically second place due to points scored. Duke women’s basketball head coach, former Mystics guard and former Wizards color analyst Kara Lawson is the advisor/coach by the way.
Women’s basketball tournament starts later today
The first game is a Group A match between Spain and Korea at 9 p.m. ET (technically a Monday game). The United States won’t play until Tuesday at 12:40 a.m. ET against Nigeria in Group B. Belgium and Australia will be the big match of the day however when they play a few hours later at 4:20 a.m. ET in Group C.
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