A Dennis Schroder-inspired Germany beat Serbia 83-77 to lift basketball’s 2023 FIBA World Cup on Sunday, 10 September.

Despite going down 26-23 in the first quarter, the Germans, playing in their first-ever final, refused to be overawed by the occasion.

Inspired by the intensity of Isaac Bonga on both sides of the ball and Toronto Raptor Schroder’s three-point magic, they responded by taking an early four-point lead in the second.

After weathering a rally from Serbia, the teams went into half-time locked at 47-47. The lead had changed hands 15 times by this point, a testament to a high quality, but even contest.

With a capacity crowd at fever pitch, Germany stepped on the gas in the third quarter to open up an 11-point lead when Serbia called a time-out.

Showing superior shooting accuracy from the likes of Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner, the Germans extended their lead to 69-57 at the buzzer.