USA caps dominant run through FIBA World Cup

Published February 05, 2015

Madrid, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - The United States captured back-to-back FIBA World Cup championships with a lopsided 129-92 rout of Serbia in Sunday's title game.

This is the first time the Americans have won consecutive FIBA championships and only the third country to do so. The Unites States is also the first country to win four straight major tournaments, as it also captured the 2008 and 2012 Olympic golds.

They accomplished the feat in Dream Team-like fashion, winning all nine of their games by an average of 33 points. Their closest contest was a 21-point victory over Turkey in group play.

Kryie Irving led the way in the final with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including makes on all six of his 3-point tries en route to being named the tournament's MVP.

James Harden chipped in 23 points for the Americans, who had eight players score in double figures in the clincher.

Nemanja Bjelica and Nikola Kalinic each scored 18 points for Serbia, which led 15-7 four minutes in before the Americans turned the tide.

Harden scored six quick points with a conventional three-point play and a 3- pointer, and Irving netted the final seven of a 15-0 run that gave the U.S. a 22-15 lead.

It was a 67-41 difference at the break, and Serbia never threatened in the second half.

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