Basketball news - USA save face with seventh-place win over Poland

It was the Americans' worst-ever performance at a World Cup.

With the Boston Celtics trio of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart sitting out, the USA hit eight of 13 three-pointers to lead by 17 at the half.

The resilient Poles cut that lead, however, to seven midway through the third period of the classification game to decide seventh and eighth places.

Donovan Mitchell made five of his six field goal attempts as he registered a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists, and his team shot 48% from behind the three-point line.

Despite some dogged play, the Poles couldn't get close enough to threaten, but there will be soul-searching rather than celebration for the Americans who entered as favourites but finished seventh after defeats to France and Serbia.