The two Pacers taking part in the 2023 FIBA World Cup picked up two more wins on Friday, as Tyrese Haliburton and the United States and Daniel Theis and Germany both improved to 4-0 in the competition and clinched berths in the quarterfinals.
The United States prevailed 85-73 over Montenegro in the Philippines. Haliburton had another strong game off the bench, tallying 10 points, a team-high six assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 23:30. The Americans outscored Montenegro by 13 points with Haliburton the floor, the second-highest plus/minus of any player.
The Americans withstood a terrific game from Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who had a game-high 21 points and 16 rebounds (seven offensive) in the loss for Montenegro.
The United States' win, coupled with Lithuania's victory over Greece, ensures that the USA will finish in the top two in their group and thus advance to the quarterfinals. They play one more group game against Lithuania on Sunday at 8:40 AM ET to determine their seeding for the quarterfinals, which take place on Tuesday.
Germany is also through to the quarterfinals thanks to a 100-73 drubbing of Georgia combined with Slovenia's win over Australia.
Theis had 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal for Germany in Friday's victory in Okinawa, Japan.
Former Pacer Goga Bitadze had a team-high 15 points and six rebounds for Georgia.
Germany will have a showdown with Luka Doncic and Slovenia on Sunday at 7:40 AM ET. That game will determine the seeding for both countries in the quarterfinals.
The United States and Germany cannot meet in the quarterfinals, so any teammate showdown between Haliburton and Theis would not happen until at least the quarterfinals.