The 02 Arena in London had a treat for basketball lovers this week. Ranked No.1 by FIBA, the stellar American side faced a European powerhouse, Germany.

The USA did not expect such a tough match, especially with Kevin Durant on the bench. Coach Kerr considered using him but decided to reserve him for the Olympic spectacle kicking off next weekend in Lille.

Kerr's side came out strong, with Curry and Embiid, among other stars, well connected. Germany got off to a rocky start and could not counteract the Avengers' initial accuracy. As a result, the USA breathed easier, building a 10-point lead by the end of the first period (29-19).

However, what coach Kerr and the American second unit, led by Anthonys -Edwards and Davis- didn't expect was Germany's resilient response. Finnish coach Gordon Herbert kept his key players on the court, led by the sharp Schroder (13 points and 10 assists), the sharp-shooting Obst (5 made threes), the solid Wagner brothers, and the formidable center, Daniel Theis.

Germany took advantage of the USA's temporary relaxation, which had surpassed a 10-point lead, and bombarded their basket. They also fiercely defended their own. The American team scored only 19 points in the second quarter, ending with a misleading score of 48-41, thanks to two consecutive baskets by Curry that somewhat masked the Europeans' great quarter.

The second half continued in the same vein. In the third quarter, Germany completely blew up the game, undermining the morale of the American coaching staff, who found themselves outmatched in many phases of the game. With a +10 advantage, the Germans entered the decisive fourth quarter with the score in their favour: 68-71. But the best part was the atmosphere.

Far from a friendly, both teams donned their work uniforms and battled all over the court. Blocks, alley-oops, three-pointers from eight meters, it was like a true All-Star game, but with fierce defences and LeBron's warrior mentality.

Again, the King had to step in to settle the score in the last 10 minutes. At 39 years old and with over 1,500 games under his belt, once again, he delivered the final blow to his enemy: it was time to bite the dust. The USA turned to James to stage the comeback, and though Germany tried to prevent it by responding effectively with three-pointers and precise offensive tactics, they couldn't.

LeBron will be carrying the US flag on Friday, but against Germany he carried the entire team when needed. He unleashed his full arsenal (20 points, six rebounds, and four assists), supported by a couple of magical 'and one' plays from Curry and Booker that crushed the paint, putting the USA ahead before the last 120 seconds.

Despite not giving up, a couple of key mistakes, combined with American brilliance, ultimately buried the intentions of a Die Mannschaft that earned everyone's respect and, of course, the right to be one of the favourites to dethrone the Avengers in the French capital in the medal race.