It was largely viewed as a potential blockbuster semi-final or final matchup at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, but when the USA and Serbia went head-to-head on Thursday it ultimately proved to be in an exciting, but strange classification matchup.
With disappointing losses to France and Argentina, respectively, in recent days, the USA and Serbia had to put their dashed medal dreams behind them as they took to the court in the first game of a classification round that will determine where teams will finish, between fifth and eighth, in the final standings.
That made for a particularly unglamorous prospect for an American team that has rarely placed outside of the medals at major tournaments, and a Serbian squad that was looking to avoid losing three consecutive games for the first time.