World Cup favourites United States suffer scare against Montenegro

Montenegro threw metaphorical and real elbows in a David vs Goliath effort against the United States at the World Cup.

USA had a poor shooting night in a physical clash with Montenegro at the World Cup. Photos: AFP

The United States were “ice cold” and produced “the worst shooting performance we’ve seen” but claimed a 85-73 win over Montenegro in their huge World Cup clash on Friday night.

The World No. 2 ranked US side stacked with NBA talent came into the second-round group game with a perfect 3-0 record and a huge favourite to win gold.

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Montenegro, a lowly 18th in the FIBA rankings coming into the tournament, reached the second round with a 2-1 record, beating Mexico and Egypt before a heavy loss to Lithuania.

All of that was thrown out the window in a physical first half in Manila.

The European side, which is led by Chicago Bull Nikola Vucevic, took the fight right up to the Americans.

Walker Kessler (left) throws down a dunk in the moment right before Marko Simonovic threw an elbow at the American. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

That included an elbow thrown by Montenegro’s Marko Simonovic into the stomach of US big man Walker Kessler late in the first half.

Simonovic was hit with an unsportsmanlike foul before the underdogs were also hit with a tech foul as the wheels threatened to fall off their hot start.

“An unsportsmanlike foul has been called on Simonovic,” FIBA commentator Jeff Taylor said during the game. “Completely uneccessary.

“And now there’s a technical foul as well and all of a sudden, the USA’s toughest challenge of this World Cup has gone off the rails completely.

shenanigans from walker kessler and marko simonovic pic.twitter.com/QM28OGzWVr

— Ishan Ghosh (@ishanghosh824) September 1, 2023

“Montenegro with a lack of emotional discipline. Simonovic just swung his right elbow into his side.

“I don’t think you should ever throw an elbow. There’s too big a risk.”

Instead of it rattling the Montenegrins, however, they finished the half strong and took a shock 38-37 lead into the main break.

It led to US assistant coach Mark Few to yell “let’s get some fire in our eyes” during the halftime break.

The second round is not a knockout round at the World Cup, with teams moved into new groups, where the top two progress to the quarter-finals.

Everyone in Montenegro: "STOP THE COUNT!"#FIBAWC x #WinForAllpic.twitter.com/TSSSEbAUs9

— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 1, 2023

Team USA trails for the first time at halftime in the FIBA World Cup, 37-38.

Nobody scores more than five points for the Americans as they collectively shoot 35% (13/37) on the floor.

Vucevic led Montenegro's 1st half charge with a near double double (9pts, 10reb) @DugoutPHpic.twitter.com/LKE8IYhwEr

— Mon Anthony Valmoria (@Morval_) September 1, 2023

Part of the issue for the Americans was some horrid shooting from the floor in that first half.

That included hitting just one of their nine three-point attempts in an effort that should give the rest of the teams in the tournament some hope.

“Wow. USA overall are shooting well from the line, but shooting below 50 per cent inside the arc and shooting 35 per cent overall,” Taylor said.

“Very un-USA-like.

“This is the worst shooting performance from the USA that we’ve seen so far in this tournament. Ice cold 35 per cent from the floor.

The US struggled mightily from the field in the first half. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

“Unexpected I think from most people, Montenegro leading at halftime 38-37 over the USA in the opening game of the second round for both teams.

“Montenegro will be in the locker room talking about the great opportunity they’ve got to spring an upset and get probably the biggest win in their history.”

The European side kept up the pressure early in the second half, stretching the lead to five points in the early exchanges.

But the Americans gradually fought their way on top, with some vastly improved shooting helping them to a 24-17 third quarter for a five-point edge at the last break.

That was an ugly game. Glad they won tho #USABMNT

— Mack Hubbard (@Blacknove) September 1, 2023

Montenegro kept fighting, but the US were too composed down the stretch as they avoided the huge upset 85-73.

“A real battle won by the USA today. It was not easy at all,” Taylor said in closing.

“Montenegro, when they look back at this, maybe a couple of shots away at key parts of the game from this one being different.

“This was an awkward game for the USA.

“I wonder what other teams may have learned from this.”