'Dream Team' avoids 2nd nightmare
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-06 06:11

Allen Iverson hit a game winning three-pointer at the buzzer to earn the US men's basketball team a narrow 80-77 exhibition win over Germany on Wednesday, averting another humiliating pre-Olympic defeat.

Drubbed 95-78 by Italy a day earlier, the US put in an improved effort but still struggled against an energized German team that did not even qualify for Athens.

The US was unable to contain Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, who led all scorers with 32 points, and could never stamp their authority on a contest played in front of a raucous sell-out crowd of 18,000.

Nowitzki looked to send the contest into overtime when connected on a spectacular three-point shot over two defenders to even the score at 77-77 with four seconds left in regulation.

But the US avoided a second consecutive upset when Iverson hit a last gasp shot from just inside midcourt at the buzzer to clinch the win.

Even though it was only a tune-up match, the Americans celebrated as if they had won the gold medal mobbing Iverson after his winning shot rattled through the basket.

"It'll be interesting to see how they do at the Olympics in Athens," Nowitzki said of the US team.

The Americans' struggles - their 95-78 loss against Italy was the worst defeat since NBA players started competing in 1992 - has removed the aura of invincibility that surrounded past US 'Dream Teams' and raised the prospects of a wide open Olympic basketball tournament in Athens.

Since the Olympics was opened up to NBA players in 1992 the US has won all three gold medals and posted a 24-0 record.

But after a dismal sixth place finish at the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis, the United States position as the world's undisputed basketball power has been questioned.

"We don't feel like we're the favourites," said US coach Larry Brown. "We made improvements from the game last night but still have a long, long way to go.

"I hope these two games will help us as the trip goes on. We have a long way to go."

The Americans also enjoyed a better night from the field, with two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan contributing 19 points followed by Iverson with 15.

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