USA Wins World Cup 2014 (News)

The Americans became just the third team to win back-to-back FIBA titles and won their fifth overall, and they did it despite putting a small scare into the homeland before the rout was on. The win means they automatically qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The all-tournament team announced after the game featured Team USA's Kyrie Irving and Kenneth Faried as well as Serbia's Milos Teodosic, France's Nicolas Batum and Spain's Pau Gasol. Irving was named tournament MVP.

They also extended their winning streak to 63 games (including 18 exhibitions) in the sort of one-sided fashion (a 33-point average margin of victory) that left no question about this group's prowess. In a 129-92 championship game win against Serbia flexed its muscle in front of the international basketball world. Kyrie Irving only needed 25 minutes to lead the way with 26 points while hitting all six of his three-point shots. Irving ultimately won the MVP for his solid play throughout the tournament and his explosion in the championship game. James Harden's aggressiveness was also on display, and he finished with 23 points while going 8-for-11 from the floor. Briefly, it looked like Serbia would give the Americans a game. Serbia made sure not to get out to a slow start, building a 15-7 lead and attacking Team USA's defense at its weakest points. But the Americans seemed to shake out of a slump after seeing that deficit on the scoreboard — and by inserting more size by going to DeMarcus Cousins at center in place of Anthony Davis, who was in foul trouble. Cousins played his most impactful basketball of the tournament, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds to go with a steadying defensive presence.

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