For the opening four and half minutes, Serbia looked like they would be giving USA a challenge that did not expect in the gold medal game of the FIBA World Cup.
The USA bigs, Anthony Davis included, were in foul trouble. Serbia were getting uncontested shot after uncontested shot at the rim and held a 15-7 lead.
Then Kyrie Irving happened.
Over the final five minutes of the first quarter, Irving would score at the rim, in the fastbreak, from deep, realistically anywhere he wanted. His 13 points in the remaining five minutes of the first quarter swung momentum back into USA’s favor. In fact, the Americans finished the first on a 28-6 run, heading into the second frame up 35-21.
Unfortunately for the Serbians, it was far from over.
Thanks to 11 for 16 shooting from three-point range in the first half, the lead ballooned to 30 points in the second quarter, with James Harden and Irving combining for 35 first half points and spearheading a USA offense that was at it’s best this summer.
From then, USA could have simply cruised, but ensured the gold medal was going home with them by closing out the third on 13-4 run that pushed the lead 28 points.
In the end, Irving led the way for Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s crew, scoring 26 points on 10-13 shooting and 6 for 6 from downtown, leading to his tournament MVP award as well. Harden added 23 of his own on 8 of 11 shooting, while Kenneth Faried capped off his marvelous tournament run with 12 points and seven rebounds. Faried was named to the All-Tournament team as well.
After Spain’s upset in the quarterfinals, the path was clear for the USA straight to a gold medal. However, Serbia was not as willing to lie down. With nearly all of their opening 12 points coming at the rim, USA looked vulnerable to an upset.
However, Harden kept USA in it with two three-point plays during those opening moments, keeping USA within striking distance until Irving and company could attack.
With both Davis and Faried in early foul trouble, DeMarcus Cousins stepped up for the red, white, and blue. His final stat line of 11 points and 9 rebounds does not tell the whole story as Boogie’s presence inside in the first half was a huge difference maker.
USA also became the first nation to win four major tournaments, dating back to the 2008 Olympics and including the 2010 FIBA World Cup and 2012 Olympics.