FIBA Basketball World Cup Memorable Moments: USA v Brazil, 2010

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - When the United States showed up at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, the team had none of the players that had qualified for the tournament with a gold-medal triumph at the Beijing Olympics.

The side still had the same coach in Mike Krzyzewski, and plenty of determination.

Not since 1994 in Toronto had the Americans finished top of the podium at the event.

Even with a brand new squad, there were plenty of NBA stars wearing red, white and blue chomping at the bit to show they were the best players in the world.

Team USA showed up as the favorites.

Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Chauncey Billups, Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Andre Iguodala, Stephen Curry, Lamar Odom, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay and Danny Granger arrived in Turkey and had some additional incentive.

They wanted to strike back at those who had labeled their squad as America's 'B' Team.

In their first two Preliminary Round outings at the Abdi Ipekci, the USA tore apart Croatia and Slovenia.

Coach K’s squad lowered the boom in the second quarter against Croatia, outscoring them 26-6 en route to a 106-78 triumph.

Against Slovenia the following day, the United States began with a 12-2 run as Durant poured in seven of his game-high 22 points in a 99-77 victory.

In their third game of the tournament against Brazil, though, the United States players discovered how difficult international basketball could be.

It was a pivotal contest because the Brazilians went into the clash with a 2-0 record as well after victories over Iran and Tunisia.

The winners of the Group C showdown would set themselves up for an easier road in the knockout stages.

Brazil had the coach, and the players, to give the United States fits.

At the helm was Ruben Magnano, the man who had steered Argentina past the United States in the Semi-Finals of the 2004 Olympics and then got the better of Italy in the Gold Medal Game.

Marcelo Huertas and Tiago Splitter, fresh off a Spanish-title winning campaign with Baskonia (Caja Laboral), were lynchpins in the team and played together every summer with the Brazil squad, including the year before in the squad that captured the FIBA Americas Championship gold medal.

A player with experience in the NBA, Marcus Vieira, and veteran national team stars Marcelo Machado and Guilherme Giovannoni gave Brazil excellence on the perimeter and the explosive Leandro Barbosa and muscular Alex Garcia were the most athletic of the Brazil players, great leapers who thrived in transition.

Alex was Brazil's best defensive player.

With Cleveland Cavaliers big man Anderson Varejao hurt and unable to play, though, the USA were still expected to win.

Trailing 22-20 after a shot from the arc by Kevin Love, Barbosa took over for Brazil.

The 1.91m guard buried back-to-back three-pointers and then fed Splitter in the paint, and he scored as Brazil finished the first quarter on an 8-0 run.

Giovannoni added a basket at the beginning of the second quarter to cap the 10-0 run.

Every time the Americans made a run and threatened to pull level, the Brazilians hit big shots.

Vieira nailed his third three with 3:20 to go in the first half to give the South Americans a 43-38 advantage.

Huertas set up Splitter for the last two points of the first half and Magnano's team had a 46-43 lead.

Krzyzewski's side finally knotted the game, with a Durant three-ball making it 50-50 with 6:18 to play in the third quarter.

That basket sparked an 8-0 scoring spree for the USA yet they weren’t able to deliver a knockout punch.

As the contest went to the fourth quarter, Coach K’s squad clung to a 61-59 lead.

The game remained tight for the last spellbinding 10 minutes.

After Billups scored in the paint to give the Americans some breathing room at 70-66 with 51 seconds to play, Barbosa closed the gap to two with a basket in the lane just 33 seconds from the end.

The United States used up most of the shot clock at the other end and Billups ended up missing from long range.

Alex rebounded for Brazil, and Durant fouled Huertas with just three seconds to play.

The point guard went to the line with a chance to bring Brazil level but missed the first free-throw.

He then intentionally missed the second and chased the ball down in the left corner.

With Durant running at him to prevent an attempt from three-point range, Huertas passed to an open Barbosa in the lane and Brazil looked as if they would force overtime.

The guard missed from just a few feet, though, allowing the United States to escape with a 70-68 victory.

The close call sharpened the USA’s focus and helped them grow in self-belief.

Krzyzewski's side won the remainder of its games, most in convincing fashion , and captured the world title.

FIBA