FIBA World Championships 2010: Team USA Holds On For 70-68 Win Over Brazil

Team USA is still undefeated at the 2010 FIBA World Championships -- barely. In a tight back-and-forth affair, Team USA rallied from a narrow halftime deficit to defeat Brazil 70-68 to remain undefeated.

Brazil actually had a chance to tie the game when dynamo Marcelo Huertas earned a trip to the line with just under four second left after a dubious foul was called on Derrick Rose. Huertas missed the first free throw and deliberately missed the second, but was able to track the ball down in the corner. He then fed Leandro Barbosa underneath the basket, but Barbosa wasn’t able to hit a game-tying layup attempt over Kevin Love.

Team USA took a 61-59 lead into the final period, but both teams tightened up in the fourth quarter, trading empty possessions with forced shot after forced shot. Team USA clung to a four-point lead through much of the final stanza, but was unable to extend the lead to three possessions as the clock wound down. After narrowing USA’s lead to a deuce with just under a minute, Chauncey Billups scored on a strong drive to the basket, followed by a contorting Leandro Barbosa bucket that brought Brazil back within a basket. Billups subsequently misfired on a three-pointer that set up Brazil’s final chance with just around 11 seconds left in the contest.

Kevin Durant led the way with 27 points, but Team USA’s offense was out of sync most of the night, and their defense allowed Brazil to shoot 71 percent in the first quarter. They’ll have to figure out a solution to both of those problems if they want to win the tournament.