Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Khris Middleton of the U.S. in action with Poland's Damian Kulig REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. cruised to a 87-74 win over Poland to finish seventh at the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Saturday, putting the seal on the worst-ever performance for the Americans at the tournament.
With the Boston Celtics trio of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart sitting out, the USA hit eight of 13 three-pointers to lead by 17 at the half.
The resilient Poles cut that lead, however, to seven midway through the third period of the classification game to decide seventh and eighth places.
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Kemba Walker of the U.S. and teammates celebrate victory after the match REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Donovan Mitchell made five of his six field goal attempts as he registered a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists, and his team shot 48% from behind the three-point line.
Despite some dogged play, the Poles couldn't get close enough to threaten, but there will be soul-searching rather than celebration for the Americans who entered as favourites but finished seventh after defeats to France and Serbia.
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Poland's A.J. Slaughter in action with Myles Turner of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
Basketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Jaylen Brown of the U.S. in action with Poland's Damian Kulig REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Poland's Aaron Cewl in action with Harrison Barnes of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Derrick White of the U.S. in action with Poland's Michal Sokolowski and Kamil Laczynski REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Myles Turner of the U.S. in action with Poland's Dominik Olejniczak REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Poland's Adam Waczynski and Mateusz Ponitka in action with Joe Harris of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Poland's Michal Sokolowski in action with Donovan Mitchell of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Poland's Damian Kulig in action with Derrick White and Joe Harris of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Poland's Aaron Cewl in action with Mason Plumlee of the U.S. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Khris Middleton of the U.S. in action with Poland's Damian Kulig REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Coach of the U.S. Gregg Popovich REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonBasketball - FIBA World Cup - Classification Games 7-8 - United States v Poland - Wukesong Sport Arena, Beijing, China - September 14, 2019 Poland coach Mike Taylor REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
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