The FIBA World Championships came down to a matchup between Turkey and USA with an automatic bid to the 2012 Olympics at stake. Turkey, led by Hedo Turkoglu, was coming off their thrilling win in the semifinals against Serbia, 83-82. Meanwhile, the Kevin Durant-led Team USA was coming off an 89-74 win against an excellent Lithuanian team.
Durant entered the gold medal game with 177 total points in the FIBA tournament, 5 points shy of the USA record held by Luther Burden, set back in 1974. The “Durantula” dropped a single game scoring record 38 points against Lithuania, breaking the former 35 point record held by Carmelo Anthony.
It seemed only fitting that the young talent of the red, white, and blue had to play in the ultimate road game in order to win gold. Team USA took to the hardwood against Turkey, on their home court in Istanbul, in front of more than 15,000 hostile fans.
From the opening tip-off, Turkey showed Team USA why they were there. But, Team USA played tenacious defense in the first quarter, harassing Turkey like gnats at a mid-summer bar-b-que.
Durant got off to a hot start, with eight quick points but Turkoglu would answer back for Turkey as he knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner to give Turkey its first lead of the game, 15-14 with 4:01 left to play in the first quarter.
Turkey alternated back and forth between different zone defenses as the guards of team USA had proven to be too quick for Turkish defenders in the past.
The game became chippy with 4:00 minutes left in the first quarter as Turkey’s Turkoglu shoved an elbow into the jugular of Team USA’s Tyson Chandler. However, not to be intimidated, USA let their play do the talking as they lead the Turks 22-17 at the end of the first quarter.
Team USA continued their strong play in the second quarter. At the 6:00 minute mark with team USA leading 27-21, Andre Iguodala picked up his 2nd foul. On the following play, Durant made a drive to the basket and was fouled hard by Turkey’s Omer Asik. Durant walked off the pain and proceeded to knock down one of two free throws. Durant then went on the attack, scoring Team USA’s next eight points. Heading into the locker room USA led 42-31, and Durant had 20 points with five three-pointers.
Turkey would have the ball coming out of halftime, but it would prove to be a wasted possession as Team USA forced Turkey into their fourth shot clock violation of the game. On the first two possessions of the second half for Team USA, Durant hit back-to-back 3-point shots.
Turkey was forced to burn a quick timeout to try and cool off Durant’s hot hand. But like Pringles, once you pop, the fun don’t stop as Team USA continued to dominate out of the timeout. With 5:20 left in the 3rd, Andre Iguodola skied for the rebound over 2 Turkey defenders, made a quick right to left cross over, and found the slashing Lamar Odom for the lay-up. Team USA went up 52-37 off of the Odom score.
Team USA took a 16 point lead, 57-41, with 2:12 left in the 3rd as Russell Westbrook knocked down just his 2nd 3-pointer of the entire FIBA tournament. At the end of 3, Team USA 61, Turkey 48.
The U.S. got off to a sloppy start in the 4th, as Derrick Rose lobbed the ball too high over Lamar Odom’s head in the post. However, it wouldn’t be a sign of the quarter to come. Team USA quickly extended their lead to 65-48 with a Rose dunk and lay-up on consecutive possessions. Odom, scoreless in the first half, was a catalyst in the 2nd half with 15 points.
Turkey was never able to make a run to cut into the U.S. lead. Turkey’s fans rose to their feet with 2:12 left in the game and Turkoglu led them in a clap, having realized the game was out of reach for the home team. With 1:11 left in the fourth quarter a bevvy of substitutions were made for both teams and USA dribbled out the clock to attain their first gold medal in 16 years.
The United States, the newest world champions of basketball, beat Turkey 81-64. Durant finished with 28 points and set the all-time tournament record for the U.S. with 205 total points over the course of nine FIBA games. Durant was named MVP of the 2010 FIBA World Championships. Coach Mike Krzyzewski added another gold medal, his eighth, to his already golden resume. Krzyzewski deserves much of the credit for coaching a young U.S. squad to gold.
At the end ,on one of the most historic night’s in Turkish sports history, Team USA proved two things to be true. Age is just a number and nothing is sweeter than gold.
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