Kofi Inkoom
Dennis Schroder of the Toronto Raptors played a crucial role for Team Germany today, leaving nothing to chance as they dominated Finland, who are struggling to secure a win, with a final score of 101-75.
This victory allowed Germany to secure a clean sweep into the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Group Phase at the Okinawa Arena.
Even though they were already guaranteed to finish as the top seed in Group E, the German team didn’t become complacent.
They took full control of the match during the middle quarters and comfortably secured their third consecutive win, maintaining their unbeaten record while preventing the winless Susijengi from finding success.
Key player Dennis Schroder and energetic Isaac Bonga both contributed 15 points each, taking turns leading the team’s breakaway moments.
Johannes Thiemann added 13 points, demonstrating a high efficiency rating of 19. Moe Wagner and Andreas Obst also made valuable contributions with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Toronto Raptors’ Dennis Schroder has achieved double-digit scores in all 8 of his #FIBAWC appearances for Germany, aiding the team in sustaining their undefeated streak as they advance to the next stage of the competition.#VictoryForGermany 🇩🇪
pic.twitter.com/QCnPDcG4oF— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) August 29, 2023
The turning point of the game came early in the second period when the score was tied. Dennis Schroder spearheaded a 10-0 run, propelling Germany to a 37-27 lead as they approached the midpoint of that quarter.
Building on this momentum, they managed to create a significant gap during the third quarter. Isaac Bonga found his rhythm and guided his team to a commanding 55-39 lead, signaling the start of a one-sided match.
Isaac Bonga’s performance earned him the title of TCL Player of the Game. He shot an impressive 5-of-6 from the field and made all four of his free throws.
Additionally, he secured 3 rebounds, provided an assist, and grabbed a steal, all of which contributed to his well-deserved recognition.
Isaac Bonga nets 15 points to help Germany 🇩🇪 in remaining unbeaten, earning him the accolade of TCL Player of the Match. #FIBAWC
pic.twitter.com/f0NTujUcxq— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) August 29, 2023
The statistics clearly reflect Germany’s dominance in the match. They distributed a total of 29 assists, marking their highest count in a FIBA World Cup game since their 32 assists against New Zealand in 2002.
This victory was not only significant in terms of assists but also in terms of the margin of victory against a European opponent in the FIBA World Cup. Their previous record was an 18-point triumph over Russia, also achieved in 2002.
Ultimately, Germany’s progression to the Second Round in this year’s competition represents a redemption of sorts.
This achievement serves to overcome their unexpected elimination in the First Round during the 2019 World Cup held in China.
Following the game, the head coaches of Finland and Germany shared their reflections and bid farewell to each other. Gordie Herbert, the Head Coach of Germany, expressed their team’s gradual approach to advancement, taking one game at a time.
He noted their satisfaction with entering the next group phase with a 3-0 record but emphasized that their aspirations go beyond this stage. Herbert drew an analogy, stating they are currently halfway up the mountain and have greater expectations to fulfill.
“We expected to advance. Our thing was playing one game at a time. Obviously it’s nice to go into the next group 3-0, but we’re just in the beginning of what we want to do. The peak of the mountain is here, we’re halfway up. We have higher expectations.”
Lassi Tuovi, the Head Coach of Finland, acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. He acknowledged that progressing to the tournament’s Second Round would be a demanding task, involving formidable opponents and crucial victories.
Tuovi remarked on Germany’s evident confidence, believing it could propel them to succeed. He concluded by extending his best wishes to the German team, highlighting his hope for their success in the upcoming stages of the competition.
“Very far. Of course, the tournament’s Second Round most likely will be super tough, you need to win big games, very good basketball teams, and then you go into one-game situations. I think this confidence that they (Germany) have, will give them an opportunity to go all the way …