USA Basketball is streaming 10 select men's and women's national team exhibition contests every Friday, beginning March 12, 2021. The March 26 men’s national team exhibition re-air is from Aug. 4, 2004, when Allen Iverson hit the game-winning shot to lift the USA to an 80-77 victory over Germany in an exhibition game ahead of the 2004 Olympics. The game will be streamed at 6 p.m. (EDT) on Twitch.

COLOGNE, GERMANY (Aug. 4, 2004) -- USA co-captain Allen Iverson had never hit a game-winning shot in his illustrious playing career until he did so on Aug. 4, 2004.

With time about out, he dribbled across mid-court and launched a game-winning 40-foot 3-pointer to lift the USA National Team to an 80-77 victory over Germany in front of a sold-out Kolnarena crowd numbering 18,000. 

"It felt good when it left my hand, I knew it had a chance," said Iverson of his game winner. "I tried to side step him (his defender) just to get a little bit of space, and I got a good look at the basket and fortunately it went in. 

"That was my first buzzer-beater ever," added a smiling Iverson who was mobbed by his USA teammates after making the shot. 

The Iverson answer was a fitting end to a game that was tight the entire way and one in which NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki almost single-handedly kept his country within striking distance. Nowitzki finished the night with a game-best 32 points on 13-for-23 shooting overall, while adding 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. 

In a game in which neither team was able to post more than a six-point advantage, the fourth quarter saw the two teams stay within three points of each other for the entire 10 minutes. 

The U.S. entered the fourth quarter trailing 61-60 and was behind 65-63 with 8:40 to play when Carmelo Anthony, who was 20 years old and had just completed his first NBA season, scored five-consecutive points to spark the Americans to a 68-65 lead with 8:00 to play. 

Germany forward and former UNC player Ademola Okulaja made a 3 to tie the game at 68, then, with 5:40 to go, Lamar Odom scored off a pass from Anthony to put the U.S. up 70-68. Germany scored the game's next four points to move ahead 72-70 with 3:30 showing on the clock, but the USA evened the game after Stephon Marbury came up with a critical steal at mid-court, then found Anthony on the break for a layup with 1:57 left. 

Iverson, in a preview of what was to come, swished a 3-pointer a blink before the shot clock expired to give the U.S. a 75-72 lead with 1:18 remaining. The suspense continued and with 35 ticks left in the game, Nowitzki was fouled on a 3-point attempt, and the Dallas Mavericks star made two-of-three three free throws to close the gap to a single point, 75-74. 

Having committed just two fouls in the final quarter, Germany was forced to foul to get into the bonus and made three quick fouls before finally sending Anthony to the line to shoot two with 12.4 showing on the clock. Despite the roar of the frenzied, partisan crowd, Anthony calmly made both free throws to increase the USA lead to 77-74. 

But Nowitzki had one more shot in him and pulling up at the top of the key, he watched his 3-pointer fall cleanly through with 3.8 seconds left to tie the contest 77-77. 

Tim Duncan then inbounded the ball to Iverson around the foul line and Iverson dribbled right, took a dribble across half court and launched his first game winner. 

The U.S. offensive effort was headed by Duncan who finished with an impressive all-around effort, scoring a U.S. high 19 points and grabbing a team best nine rebounds. Anthony added 16 points, and Iverson finished with 15. All 12 U.S. players scored in the contest. 

"It was a great basketball game. Germany played very well and any time you have a Dirk Nowitzki on an opposing team you have a very tough opponent," stated U.S. mentor Larry Brown. 

"I think our players really got a lot out of these two games (against Italy on Aug. 3 and Germany Aug. 4). We made a lot of improvement from the game last night, but we have a long, long way to go. I think playing the last two nights is hopefully going to help us as this trip goes along." 

USA National Team 80, 
Germany National Team 77

(August 4, 2004  at Kolnarena, Cologne, Germany)

Officials:  Boris Schmidt, Jens Staudenmayer 

Attendance:  18,000