There will be a Pacer playing in the championship game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Either Tyrese Haliburton and the United States or Daniel Theis and Germany will be in the final after Germany gutted out an 81-79 win over Latvia on Wednesday in the Philippines to advance to face the USA in the semifinals.
Theis came through in the clutch to help Germany secure a semifinal berth. Germany led 79-69 with a little over two minutes remaining, but Latvia reeled off eight straight points in a 1:02 stretch to climb within two.
German guard Dennis Schröder missed a jumper with 51 seconds to play, but Theis was there to secure the offensive rebound and draw a foul on Latvia forward Davis Bertans with 49 seconds remaining. Theis then knocked down both free throws to once again make it a two-possession game.
Arturs Zagars wound up converting a layup with 33 seconds to play. Schröder then missed on the other end, giving Latvia a chance to steal the win, but Bertans couldn't convert a potential game-winning three at the buzzer.
Theis finished with nine points and eight rebounds in just under 22 minutes for Germany.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner -- back in the lineup after sitting out the last four games with an ankle injury, led the team with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Bertans had a game-high 20 points on 6-of-13 3-point shooting for Latvia.
Germany is the only team that has yet to lose at this year's World Cup. They will face a stiff test on Friday against the United States. The two teams played in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month, with the USA rallying from a double-digit deficit to pull out a win.
The USA and Germany will tip off at 8:40 AM ET on Friday in Manila. In the other semifinal, Canada will square off with Serbia.
All four teams will wrap up the World Cup on Sunday, with the two semifinal losers first competing in a third-place game, followed by the championship. The United States has won the tournament five times previously. Serbia was runner-up to the USA in 2014. Germany's best finish is third place in 2002, while Canada has reached the semifinals for the first time ever.
As one of the last two remaining European teams, Germany has also now clinched a spot in the 2024 Olympics. The United States already clinched an Olympic berth by being one of two North or South American countries to reach the quarterfinals.