When you reduce the most powerful basketball force, the guys who play in the NBA league, to only 37 points in the first half, when you don't give up in the second half, and you play your game throughout the match, then you know that you have made history even when you are defeated.
Montenegro played a match to remember, as rarely did NBA stars, but they did not have the strength for an epic triumph.
Certainly, the defeat of 85:73 at Mundobasket, which the "dream team" reached at the very end of the game, is somehow epic.
Nikola Vučević once again led our team with 18 points and 15 rebounds, followed by Kendrick Perry with 14 points and six assists, Marko Simonović and Nikola Ivanović scored nine each, and captain Bojan Dubljević eight points.
On the other side, the best player was Endtoni Edwards, who scored all 17 points in the second half.
Montenegro played a phenomenal first half, they opened the first quarter with 11:4 and 18:12, and in the second - even if Vucevic rested - they would be an equal rival with a powerful rival. Marko Simonović's "knocking" was accurate for an unforgettable 20 minutes and 38:37 before the break for Montenegro.
It was played similarly in the sequel. In Steve Kerr's team, the first pick from the 2020 draft, Anthony Edwards, broke out, but Montenegro did not give up, regardless of his game and (again) many turnovers (22).
Nikola Ivanovic's three-pointer in the middle of the last quarter brought it to 64:62, after Bojan Dubljević's baskets it was 72:68... However, during the last five minutes, the individual quality of the NBA players decided.
USA - MONTENEGRO 85:73 (19:18, 18:20, 24:17, 24:18)
MANILA - "Mall of Asia Arena". Referees: Rosso (France), Krejič (Slovenia), Salins (Latvia).
USA: Halliburton 10, Bridges 10, Johnson, Ingram 2, Bankero 8, Portis 3, Edwards 17, Branson 4, Hart 4, Jackson Jr. 11, Kessler 4, Reaves 12.
Montenegro: Ilić, Mihailović 5, Vucevic 18, Slavković, Radončić 4, Radović 4, Dubljević 8, Simonović 9, Nikola Ivanović 9, Drobnjak, Popović 2, Peri 14.
THE END: The day when the defeat is also memorable - Montenegro tormented the great United States of America until the end, when it was defeated only in the finish 85:73.
With a calmer game in the finish, the United States of America gained the biggest advantage only with a minute and a half to go - a basket by Bridges took the lead 79:69.
A good game and the captain of Montenegro - the points of Bojan Dubljević are "red" at 72:68.
Despite as many as 21 lost balls, Montenegro is still in the game - 72:66, with less than four minutes remaining.
The great fight continues in the last quarter - Montenegro reached 64:62 with a three-pointer by Ivanovic.
End of the third quarter - the good game of Boško Radović's boys continues. The USA has a plus six (10:61) before the decisive 55 minutes.
Nikola Vučević has been on a double-double performance for a long time (16+13), Kendrick Perry scored 10 points, and Marko Simonović nine.
Edwards continued to play - after zero in the first half, he scored 10 in the third quarter.
Nevertheless, Montenegro still does not surrender - 59:54 for the USA.
The second half of Montenegro also started well - Vučević already achieved a double-double performance (13+10), and he managed to "glue" the ramp to the first pick from the 2020 draft, Anthony Edwards.
After almost five minutes in the third quarter, the score was 48:48.
The end of the second quarter - and what a quarter. Montenegro went to the break with a 38:39 lead due to the "knock" of Simonović.
No matter how this match ends, the first 20 minutes will remain for history, for retelling...
The most effective in our team are Nikola Vucevic with nine points (he also has an unreal 10 rebounds), Marko Simonović (7) and Knedrik Peri with five.
On the other side, Austin Reeves scored six points.
The referees' strange decisions - after Kesler's dunk, showed Simonović an unsportsmanlike personal foul, and Radončić a technical one.
However, out of three free ones, the Americans used only one - 37:34.
Perija's three-pointer - a new equalizer for Montenegro at minute and 15 until the end of the second quarter (34:34).
Even with Vučević on the bench, Montenegro plays phenomenally - after two points by captain Dubljević, the result is a draw (31:31).
Montenegro does not give up - with four tied points, Nikola Ivanovic reduced the score to 31:29.
With baskets by Ingram, Kessler and Bridges, the USA reaches 31:25.
Vladimir Mihailović's three-pointer announced the second quarter in which our boys continue to "torture" the NBA stars. After four minutes of the second period, the Americans are only at 26:25.
End of the first quarter: USA - Montenegro 19:18.
Good opening for Montenegro, our guys led 11:4 and 18:12, but "Ameri" showed why they are the first favorite and leave at the mini-break with plus one.
With nine points, Nikola Vucevic is the most effective player of Montenegro so far.
Masters USA took advantage of everything and took the lead with a 7:0 series - 19:18.
Lost balls are something that has been the biggest problem of our national team since the start of Mundobasket - during the first quarter of the match against the USA, they already made seven.
Excellent game by our guys after the time out - with four points from Vučević and two from Radončić, Montenegro leads again 18:12.
Bonus video:
