Americans idled

Stunning 81-78 defeat knocks U.S. out of medals

Vlade Divac's game-high 11 rebounds led Yugoslavia. Nathaniel Butler/NBAE/ Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- George Karl sighed as he dug his fingers into his forehead, struggling to find the correct words to express his disappointment. Next to him sat Michael Finley, his chin resting on his fist and his eyes barely open.

The Americans were a picture of failure and frustration Thursday night after their second loss in as many nights at the World Championships.

In yet another stunning outcome, Yugoslavia came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and defeated the U.S. team 81-78. The loss ensured that there will be no medal -- gold, silver or bronze -- for the host team at the World Championships.

"Last night was much more discouraging. Tonight is disappointing," Karl said.

After going 58-0 using NBA players in international competitions, the Americans have shockingly lost twice in a row.

The best they can do is finish in fifth place in this topsy-turvy tournament.

Yugoslavia's other victims CNNSI.com's Marty Burns INDIANAPOLIS -- So this is how it ends for the good ol’ U-S-of-A? With some guy named Milan Gurovic outgunning Reggie Miller in his own house? With Clippers backup point guard Marko Jaric hitting four straight free throws to help beat Clippers starting point guard Andre Miller? With a pro-Yugoslavian flag-waving crowd turning Reggie’s Hoosier Home into something resembling Belgrade West? • Click here for more.

"Obviously it's embarrassing, on our home turf. We have to walk away from it as a learning experience," U.S. guard Andre Miller said.

Cheered on by a raucous crowd of flag-waving, frantic fans who drowned out the home country's supporters, Yugoslavia advanced to the semifinals against New Zealand.

Miller had a chance to force overtime, but his long 3-point attempt just before the final buzzer came up short.

Much like Argentina did after defeating the United States on Wednesday night, the Yugoslavs celebrated, danced and hugged at midcourt as the stunned U.S. team could only watch.

"I still think it's a tremendous celebration of basketball," Karl said. "You're seeing the rest of the world playing better basketball, special basketball. I'm not sure it's the end of an era so much as it's a celebration of basketball."

Stojakovic, one of five NBA players on Yugoslavia's roster, scored 20 points. Vlade Divac added 16 -- all in the first half -- and Milan Gurovic had 15.

Gurovic hit his third 3-pointer of the fourth quarter to give Yugoslavia a 77-73 lead with 56 seconds left. Miller answered with a 3-pointer 18 seconds later, and Marko Jaric sank two free throws with 23 seconds left to restore a three-point lead.

Reggie Miller got open underneath for a layup with 13 seconds left, and the Americans quickly fouled Jaric. He calmly sank both, and the Americans -- out of timeouts -- were forced to try to tie it from behind the 3-point arc.

When Andre Miller's shot missed, the Yugoslavian fans, players and media celebrated wildly, and Jurovic was hoisted onto his teammates shoulders.

"This is a great victory for us," said Divac, who boldly stated a week ago that his team knew it could beat the United States. "It's not fair for the U.S. team because there is so much pressure on them, and the international game is a different game than they're used to."

The Yugoslavian players hugged, kissed and high-fived their supporters for almost an hour after the game ended, while the Americans left the arena in shock.

U.S.-Yugoslavia Box Score YUGOSLAVIA (81) Koturovic 1-3 1-2 3, Gurovic 5-12 1-3 15, Divac 6-12 3-4 16, Stojakovic 6-15 5-6 20, Vujanic 2-5 0-0 5, Jaric 1-4 4-6 7, Bodiroga 1-7 7-8 9, Tomasevic 3-5 0-0 6. Totals 25-63 21-29 81. USA (78) Pierce 5-12 7-9 19, Wallace 0-3 0-2 0, A.Davis 2-3 0-0 4, A.Miller 8-17 2-2 19, R. Miller 3-8 0-0 8, Finley 3-9 4-4 12, O'Neal 3-6 2-6 8, B.Davis 3-6 0-1 8, Brand 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-64 15-24 78. Yugoslavia 20 20 12 29--81 United States 20 16 22 20--78 3-Point goals--Yugoslavia 10-17 (Gurovic 4-6, Stojakovic 3-5, Divac 1-1, Jaric 1-2, Vujanic 1-3), USA 9-23 (Finley 2-4, B.Davis 2-4, R.Miller 2-5, Pierce 2-7, A.Miller 1-3). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Yugoslavia 53 (Divac 11), USA 39 (O'Neal 8). Assists--Yugoslavia 15 (Stojakovic 4), USA 16 (A.Miller 7). Total fouls--Yugoslavia 22, USA 26. A--5,362.

Never could they have imagined losing a game, much less two.

"It's so brand new, we'll have to evaluate what we'll do for '04," USA Basketball executive director Jim Tooley said. "We'll go qualify (for the Olympics) next year and think about what our next move is."

Looking as though they were still thinking about their loss to Argentina, the Americans did not get off to a good start. Paul Pierce was whistled for a foul just 8 seconds in, and he committed his second -- both were questionable calls -- just 2 minutes in.

Karl called a very early timeout, but the Americans failed to box out on the next possession as Stojakovic scored on a tip-in for a 9-0 lead.

A 9-0 run got the Americans back in it, and the game stayed tight throughout the second quarter. Yugoslavia led for all but 66 seconds in the period, hitting big shots every time the Americans threatened to take the lead.

Divac had 16 points and five rebounds by halftime as Yugoslavia held a 40-36 lead. It was the second night in a row -- and the second time ever since 1992 -- that the U.S. team trailed at halftime.

Pressure defense in the backcourt helped the U.S. team take the lead early in the third. Pierce hit a 3-pointer after Reggie Miller stole the ball at midcourt, and Pierce then drove down the middle for an emphatic dunk and a 45-42 lead.

A layup by Baron Davis off the U.S. team's sixth steal of the quarter gave them a 56-46 lead, although Yugoslavia got the deficit down to six by the end of the quarter.

Baron Davis hit a 3 to start an 8-0 run that gave the Americans a 69-59 lead, but Gurovic answered with consecutive 3-pointers to start a 9-0 run that got Yugoslavia right back in it.

A 3-pointer by Jaric produced a 71-71 tie with 2:26 left, and a free throw by Dejan Bodiroga with 1:49 remaining gave Yugoslavia the lead for good.

"You can't imagine how happy my people are. They feel so good right now," Stojakovic said. "They've been up at 3 a.m., getting out of bed and watching this thing. They love this. We wanted to win for them."

 

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