FIBA world championship final: USA defeats Turkey


Team USA defeated Turkey 81-64 and won its first world championship since 1994.

Again, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant carried the U.S. He finished with a game-high 28 points, including 20 in the first half. He got the U.S. rolling in the second half with two early three-pointers, helping the U.S. run away from Turkey in front of nearly 15,000 Turkish fans in Istanbul.

The U.S. relied on its speed, depth and athleticism in the second half. Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The U.S. held Turkey to 36.4% shooting. Phoenix Suns forward Hedo Turkoglu led Turkey with 16 points.

Earlier: Playing 5,000 miles from home, Team USA faces its biggest challenge of the FIBA world championship today: Beat Turkey in front of 15,000 wild Turkish fans in Istanbul in the gold-medal game (ESPN, 2:30 p.m. ET).

Turkey has never medaled in a world championship and will get one today. It wants gold in front of the home crowd.

The rise of basketball in Turkey was inspired, in part, by the American TV show The White Shadow.

The U.S. (7-0) has not won the world championship since 1994. If USA forward Kevin Durant has another great game -- he had 38 in the 89-74 semifinal win vs. Lithuania -- the U.S. will have a great chance to win.

Unbeaten Turkey has been impresive. Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova and Phoenix Suns forward Hedo Turkoglu are Turkey's top two scorers. Turkoglu meandered through group play but has been much more effective in the knockout round. He scored 16 points in Turkey's 83-82 victory against Serbia in the semifinals.

Centers Semih Erden and Omer Asik will play in the NBA this season -- Erden for the Boston Celtics and Asik for the Chicago Bulls. Guards Sinan Guler, Omer Onan, Karem Tunceri and Ender Arslan shoot better than 40% on three-pointers.

Turkey is a smooth offensive operation, a team which spaces the court and passes well. Turkey is shooting 43.2% on threes and 55.9% on two-pointers.

Turkey plays solid defense and will make the U.S. work hard for open looks in the half court against its zone. Turkey also has height, which does not in this tournament. Asik is 7-0, Erden 6-11, Ilyasova and Turkoglu 6-11. It is possible all four will be on the court at the same time. The better the U.S. moves the ball, the more good looks it will get, either on outside shots or in the lane.

Kevin Durant is like the anti-Lebron hero. He announced his decision through twitter lol.