Dominican Republic shocks USA Basketball in World Cup qualifier, raising stakes for 2027

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — So, Kevin Durant wants to play for Team USA at the Olympics again?

The men’s national team could use him well before that.

In a 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying game Thursday night, USA Basketball lost to the Dominican Republic, 87-79. It was the U.S.’s second loss ever to the Dominicans in men’s basketball, and first since 1989. The Americans trailed by as many as 19 and never led.

Yes, a U.S. men’s basketball team did not hold a lead in an international game.

“Now I am very happy because every player that comes to the (Dominican Republic) national team, they feel love for this country, for this flag,” Dominican coach Nestor Garcia said. “In our country, the people support us. This is for the Dominican people.”

There were about 1,000 people in the stands at Front Wave Arena, home of the Clippers’ G League team. Most of them were Dominican fans. They remained and cheered after the buzzer, while the Dominican team danced at halfcourt and chanted “grupito, grupito,” which means, little group.

They were a collection of Davids, celebrating a victory over Goliath.

“I was telling my guys that no one believed in us,” said Angel Delgado, the Dominican captain who played for the Clippers’ G League affiliate in 2019 and scored 11 points with eight boards on Thursday.

The Americans were too slow for most of the night, couldn’t shoot and were beaten up in the paint. The Dominicans scored the first nine points.

Brandon Knight was the Americans’ leading scorer with 20 points. James Wiseman, playing in his first competitive game since he was released Dec. 26 by Indiana, finished with nine points, six rebounds and three blocks. David Roddy, who plays for Toronto’s G League team, contributed eight points, three rebounds and two steals.

USA closing the gap! 🔥😤#FIBAWC x #StepItUp pic.twitter.com/J2hUWRJADD

— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) February 27, 2026

There are two things to keep in mind regarding these games. First, they are not for the stars who eventually represent the U.S. at the Olympics or World Cups. They are not even for current NBA players (although the Dominicans were missing players too, players on European teams who could not break away for this qualifying window).

Secondly, losses happen in qualifiers like this. There has never been a scenario in which the Americans failed to qualify for the World Cup, including in 2023 when the U.S. lost three times in qualifiers. There are still nine qualifying games remaining over the next year for them to punch their ticket for the Cup, which is in Qatar in August 2027.

However, entry is not guaranteed. There is a scenario in which the U.S. could fail to qualify for the World Cup, which would be embarrassing for the Olympic hosts and for FIBA, which wants as much interest and viewership for its quadrennial, global tournament. The U.S. is now 2-1 in 2027 qualifiers, and FIBA experts believe it will likely take eight victories to qualify.

Still, the Americans must first make sure they advance to the second round of qualifiers. The stakes make Sunday’s game against Mexico in Oceanside, Calif., which is between Los Angeles and San Diego, a big one for the Americans.

“Coming into the Mexico game, we’ll obviously have more focus and a better understanding of what it’s gonna take,” said U.S. coach Stephen Silas. “But Mexico is good, so we’ll have to play our best game.”

The cleanest typical way to qualify for the Olympics is to finish higher among teams from your continent at the World Cup. Countries hosting the Olympics are usually granted a spot in the basketball tournaments, so the Americans likely aren’t fighting for a spot in the L.A.-based Games less than three years from now.

Except that the men and women who work for USA Basketball full-time have plenty to do before anyone thinks about who is on the Olympic roster. There is qualifying to be done, and then a World Cup team to field.

Durant told ESPN recently he wanted to play in his fifth Olympics. Would he consider a World Cup?

The American roster often turns over from the previous qualifying “window” (teams play two games in a window, which comes around every couple of months). If qualifying for the World Cup ever comes into serious question, the Americans could draw from NBA players on two-way contracts who are not in 10-man rotations.

Yet, Wiseman, a center and former No. 2 pick by the Golden State Warriors, is on the U.S. team for these two games, along with Roddy, who has played for five NBA teams and played for Houston last season. Elfrid Payton, Dakota Mathias and Knight are other notable players.

“With Wise, you can see he belongs on an NBA roster,” Silas said. “He’s long, he can play pick and roll defense. In the fourth quarter, we switched everything. He was able to contain the basketball. He rebounds, he blocks shots. He’s a little rusty; scoring around the hoop was a little bit tough for him. But he belongs on the NBA roster.

“Roddy is like a guy that I wish I could just keep coaching,” Silas continued. “He can do so many things, he’s so versatile and he can play so many different positions.”

Silas will have at least one more chance to coach Roddy, against a Mexican team that beat the U.S. in a 2021 World Cup qualifying game (for the ‘23 World Cup) and is expected to have a sizeable rooting section.