Day 9 in the 2016 Rio Olympics Men’s Basketball tournament saw the favorites trot their way to separate victories, though Team USA had to go through the wringer before surviving France. Australia and Serbia, meanwhile, had easy times knocking off Venezuela and China respectively.
*The following also appears on FIBA.com.
USA over FRA, 100-97
Another game, another unconvincing win for the United States on Sunday.
Taking on a star-studded French team, the USA opened up a 16-point lead late in the third quarter but failed to slam the door shut on Les Bleus and only won, 100-97.
Klay Thompson was outstanding, proving the Americans with 30 points while Thomas Heurtel, one of France's less celebrated player, was arguably the best player in the game with 18 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds.
The USA won for the fifth time in as many games to clinch first place in Group A while France saw their three-game winning streak come to an end and will go into the Quarter-Finals with a 3-2 record.
AUS over VEN, 81-56
Australia will go into the Olympic Basketball Tournament's Quarter-Finals on the back of their fourth victory in Rio de Janeiro after beating Venezuela, 81-56.
With Andrew Bogut back after resting against China and providing a towering presence inside, the Boomers got on top of last year's FIBA Americas Championship winners early and led until the end.
Andrej Lemanis gave Pat Mills the night off but got a big lift from Chris Goulding, who came into the game averaging less than a point per contest and poured in a game-high 22.
SRB over CHN, 94-60
Serbia made quick work of China to finish fourth in Group A at the Olympic Basketball Tournament and clinch a spot in Wednesday's Quarter-Finals.
In front of a festive, if not huge crowd, the same team that nearly beat the USA on Friday night were in total command of their encounter against last year's FIBA Asia Championship winners early in the second quarter and rolled to a 94-60 victory.
Serbia won for the first time since opening day while China, for the second consecutive Olympics, finished without a win.
Nikola Kalinic impressed for Serbia with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
All images are from FIBA.
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