four rebounds, four assists and three steals. James finished with 18 points and five assists, despite playing fewer than six minutes in the second half due to foul trouble and just 22 minutes overall. Paul dished out seven assists and was 5-of-6 from 3-point to finish with 17 points; Love and Iguodala contributed 13 points and game highs of nine rebounds apiece; and Bryant rounded out the USA’s double-digit scorers with 11 points. “It was one of those times … I’ve
probably had that feeling three or four times before that every time I catch it, I feel like it’s going to go in, but it wasn’t just me,” Durant said. “My teammates did a good job of giving me confidence first off. Also, just finding me. They’re passing up shots to give me the ball, and that’s a great feeling. I just try to do my part and make the shot.” While Argentina put the first points
on the board, Durant accounted for the first of seven U.S. 3-pointers in the stanza at 9:25 to start the USA off. Trailing 14-8 after a three from Bryant at 7:24, Argentina managed its largest run of the first half with seven consecutive points to lead 15-14 at 5:57. Bryant ended the drought with two
made free throws before Durant put the USA up 19-15 with another make from deep at 4:51. The U.S. lead stretched to as many as five points before Argentina again fought back and led 30-29 with a 3-pointer at 1:01. Two free throws from Anthony and then a third 3-pointer from Durant helped the USA take a 34-32 lead after the first quarter. “Tonight’s game was so much fun,”
Paul said. “Anyone who is involved in athletics knows that there are these ups and downs over the course of a game. I give Argentina a lot of credit. They pushed us they made us compete, and that’s what you want to do.” The USA led by six points three
different times in the first four minutes of the second quarter before Argentina charged back to take a one-point lead, 48-47, off of consecutive 3-pointers from Leonardo Gutierrez and then a three- point play by Juan Pedro Gutierrez at 3:37. The teams were nearly even from there, but the USA had restored a one- point lead, 60-59, at halftime. After shooting 7-of-15 from 3-point in the first quarter, the USA finished the
28
first half just 9-of-22 from deep. The trend again reversed in the third quarter, however, as the USA shot a lights-out 7-of-9 from behind the arc in the period to outscore Argentina 42-17 in the stanza and break the game open. James started the third period with a
turn-around jumper and then countered a three from Argentina with a 3-pointer of his own and scored again at 8:29 to put the USA ahead 67-62. Durant knocked in a three at 7:49, and the USA was off and running. Argentina managed
two field goals over the next two minutes as the USA put up 12 points thanks to scores from four players to lead 79-66 at 5:51. Twelve of the USA’s next 14 points belonged to Durant, who bookended a score by Love with four 3-pointers, including one from way beyond the 3-point arc at 1:53 to put the USA ahead 93-74 and inspire chants of U-S-A from the crowd. “It wasn’t like we had a
different focus,” James said of the third quarter. “We knew defensively in the first half we didn’t play to our capabilities. We allowed them to get a lot of open shots, a lot of open looks, a lot of layups and that’s not how we play the game of basketball defensive- ly. We came out with a sense of urgency in the third quarter to step it up defensively, play more solid and not gamble as much, and then execute a little bit more on the offensive end.” With the game’s momentum fully on
its side, the USA went on to outscore Argentina 9-2 to close the period, and Anthony sank one more three at the buzzer to put the USA up 102-76. Argentina never recovered, and the
USA went on to outscore Argentina 24 to 21 to bring the game to its 126-97 final.
Outrebounding the South Americans
47-33, the USA recorded 32 second- chance points, as well as 27 points off of 16 Argentina turnovers.
Six players also reached double
digits for Argentina, which was without point guard Pablo Prigioni. Manu Ginobili finished with 16 points, and Carlos Delfino added 13 points.
USA 119, Australia 86 A triple-double from James and 20
points from Bryant, including four straight 3-pointers in a 67-second span in the fourth quarter, helped the U.S
An explosive reserve player for the Americans, Russell Westbrook in his eight Olympic games averaged 8.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
overpower Australia 119-86 in an Olympic quarterfinals match-up. “We knew that we were going to
play a very athletic, quick, well-coached team in Australia, who were coming off a couple of big wins,” said Krzyzewski. “They pushed the ball down the court against us well. I thought we played well in the first half, except for we didn’t get back sometimes and they got about 10-12 points in transition. “We got off to a horrible start in the
second-half, and I am proud of my guys because we were playing well in the first half, got that bad start and then they
USA Basketball News
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
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