Latvia's 2023 World Cup run has reached its conclusion, but it wasn't without a hard fought fight.
In the final 10 seconds of the game, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Davis Bertans matched up against former Thunder Dennis Schroder, with the guard looking to give Germany the final dagger.
Bertans stayed with Schroder all the way to the basket, forcing him to put up a difficult shot that hit the front of the rim.
Bertans then grabbed the rebound and quickly began running down the court to get a final shot for Lativa. The forward settled for a deep 3-pointer that would have given his team the win, but the shot clanked the rim, ending Latvia's FIBA bid.
When asked about the shot, Bertans said that “Every single teammate told me they respected that shot and they wanted me to shoot it. Unfortunately, it didn’t go in, but the timing also gave us a chance to fight for a rebound and a tip-in. We got a couple of guys down there that got their hands on the ball.”
Bertans finished with 20 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and recording a steal and block a piece, with all but one of his 14 shots coming from the 3-point arc.
Overall it was a fantastic tournament run for both Lativa and Bertans, as the forward finished with 13.7 points per game shooting close to 40% from deep and help lead his team to a 5-2 record.
If Oklahoma City can get close to that type of production from Bertans this season, he could be a valuable asset for the playoff-contending team.
On a team filled with some of the most elite interior scorers in the entire NBA, having spot-up shooters on the floor alongside them can help with spacing and opening up the floor. Bertans is the perfect catch-and-shoot player for the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey to dime up, which could lead to a lot of easy points throughout the season.
The Thunder have an incredibly deep roster so playing time will not come easy, but Bertans' play during the FIBA Tournament may boost his value and minutes early into the season for Oklahoma City.
More must-reads: