Team USA suffered its second consecutive loss in Olympic men’s basketball 3×3 competition, falling 19-17 to Poland on Wednesday in Paris.
The United States never led in the game and fell to 0-2 in pool play. The Americans cut the deficit to one with 1:08 remaining, but Jimmer Fredette’s missed 2-pointer with 20 seconds remaining sealed the loss.
Adrian Bogucki scored a game-high seven points for Poland, while Michał Sokołowski added five. Canyon Barry and Dylan Travis each scored six points for Team USA. Fredette finished with three points.
The U.S. struggled from distance, shooting just 2 of 15 on 2-point field goals — shots taken beyond the arc.
Team USA is competing in the men’s basketball 3×3 competition at the 2024 Olympics for the first time after failing to qualify for the event at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
The U.S. will be back on the court twice on Thursday against Lithuania (0-2) at 1:05 p.m. ET and against Latvia (2-0) at 4:35 p.m. ET.
The 2024 games mark the second Olympics 3×3 basketball is recognized as an official event.
3×3 basketball rules explained
This event has a different set of rules than the traditional five-on-five format basketball fans are accustomed to. This style of basketball is played in a half-court setting with a 12-second shot clock. Field goals are worth one point or two points if the shot is from behind the arc, and there is not an inbounds pass after a made basket.
The game starts with a coin toss, and the winner gets to choose whether to begin the game on offense or defense.
Possession switches between teams after every made basket — no matter if the shot is made or missed. Once a player takes control of the ball inside the arc, they have to dribble it out or pass it to another player outside of the arc before they can attempt a shot.
The team that reaches 21 points first or scores the most points after a single…
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