The U.S. men’s 3×3 basketball team is off to a tough start in Paris Olympics pool play, falling to Poland 19-17 on Wednesday night. Jimmer Fredette cut the lead to 1 point with 90 seconds remaining, but Michał Sokołowski’s free throw extended Poland’s lead. Despite a late chance to tie, Fredette’s 2-point attempt fell short.
Fredette, who joined the team to bolster their chances after missing Tokyo, appeared to suffer an injury but continued to play. He did not speak to reporters post-game, and details about his injury remain unclear.
The U.S. struggled with shooting accuracy, making just 2 of 15 attempts from long range. Kareem Maddox expressed confidence, noting the team’s need for adjustments. The U.S. had been down by 1 before Poland’s 6-1 run. Canyon Barry led the U.S. with six points, while Dylan Travis added six and Fredette contributed three.
In other pool play matches, France secured a win over Lithuania with a late basket by Timothé Vergiat. Latvia defeated the Netherlands, and China overcame Serbia with a strong second-half performance.
Women’s Team Defeated by Azerbaijan
The U.S. women’s 3×3 basketball team also struggled, losing 20-17 to Azerbaijan. Tiffany Hayes scored the game-winning basket for Azerbaijan, putting them ahead 18-17 with six seconds left. Hailey Van Lith’s attempt to regain the lead missed, and two free throws by Alexandra Mollenhauer sealed the victory for Azerbaijan.
The U.S. women, who were favorites to win, now find themselves at 0-2 in pool play, having also lost to Germany earlier. The defending champions are looking to turn their fortunes around in the remaining games.
Upcoming Matches and Standings
Both U.S. teams are seeking their first wins as pool play continues. The men’s team will need to overcome their shooting woes and injury concerns, while the women’s team aims to rebound from their unexpected losses.
