U.S. men fall to 0-2 in 3x3 basketball pool play at Olympics with loss to Poland

PARIS — The U.S. men’s 3x3 basketball team dropped to 0-2 in pool play in the Paris Olympics with a 19-17 loss to Poland on Wednesday night.

Jimmer Fredette cut the lead to 1 with about 90 seconds left before Michal Sokolowski made a free throw a few seconds later to extend the lead to 19-17.

The U.S. had a chance to tie it late, but Fredette’s 2-point attempt came up short. Fredette, who was brought in to boost the team after the U.S. failed to qualify for Tokyo, appeared to sustain an injury with about three minutes left. He looked to be in pain as he was tended to by a trainer but soon returned to the game.

He did not speak to reporters after the game, and a team spokesman said he was receiving treatment but did not provide any specifics on an injury.

The U.S. team remains confident despite the tough start to the Paris Games.

“I don’t think we’re concerned,” Kareem Maddox said. “We just know we have some adjustments to make.”

The U.S. was down by 1 after a basket by Canyon Barry with about six minutes left before Poland used a 6-1 run to make it 15-9 with four minutes to go.

Poland was up by 5 with about 2 1/2 minutes to go when Barry made three free throws to cut the lead to 17-15. Barry shoots free throws underhanded like his father, NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry.

A basket by Adrian Bogucki pushed Poland’s lead to 3 and Dylan Travis made a shot for the U.S. before Fredette’s last bucket got team within 18-17.

Bogucki had seven points and five rebounds for Poland, which lost to France on Tuesday.

Barry and Travis led the U.S. with six points each. Fredette, who is the only player with NBA experience in the 3x3 competition, added three.

The U.S. struggled from long-range, making just 2 of 15 attempts.

“We’re just not making shots,” Barry said. “That’s what it comes down to. We had a lot of good looks and they just didn’t fall tonight.”