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| Images from FIBA. |
Team USA met expectations by subduing Spain in the semifinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics Men’s Basketball tournament even as Serbia exploited a lethargic Australia to advance to the Final.
*The following also appears on FIBA.com.
SRB over AUS, 87-61
Serbia cruised to a resounding 87-61 win over Australia in Friday's second Semi-Final of the Olympic Basketball Tournament to set up a showdown with the USA in Sunday's Gold Medal Game.
Serbia last reached the Olympic Final 20 years ago. At the Atlanta 1996 Games, playing under the flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, they lost to the USA, 95-69. The USA and Serbia faced each other in the Group Phase in Rio, with the two-time defending champions edging out a 94-91 win.
Australia will face Spain in the Bronze Medal Game in the search of a first-ever medal at an Olympics.
Serbia were in control of Friday night's game right from the start, scoring the opening eight points and forcing Australia into bad shots and costly turnovers. It didn't help that the Boomers were ice cold, going 2-of-15 from the field, as they trailed 16-5 by the end of the first quarter.
Australia broke out of their slump in the third quarter, scoring 24 points but Serbia had 31 of their own as they headed into the final frame up 66-38, with the win all but wrapped up.
Teodosic was in attack mode right from the get go, scoring 6 of Serbia's first 12 points. It gave Serbia the start they needed and they never looked back. Teodosic finished with 22 points and 5 assists.
USA over ESP, 82-76
The USA beat Spain, 82-76, in Friday's first Semi-Final of the Olympic Basketball Tournament to advance to Sunday's Gold Medal Game.
The two-time defending champions will take on the winners of the second Semi-Final between Australia and Serbia.
In a rematch of the Gold Medal Games at the last two Olympics, the Americans never trailed, but Spain stayed within striking distance for much of the game and the victory for Mike Krzyzewski's side was not secured until the closing minutes.
Kyle Lowry came off the bench and scored five quick points late in the first quarter, including a three-pointer in the dying seconds that gave the USA a 26-17 lead.
The USA stretched their lead back to double-digits when Carmelo Anthony converted a three-point play with 6:20 left in the third quarter. Spain got within 61-55 but headed into the fourth quarter trailing 66-57.
Lowry and Paul George pushed the lead up to as many as 15 early in the final frame. A three-point shootout then ensued with Juan-Carlos Navarro hitting one, only for Thompson answering right back, before Nikola Mirotic and Kyrie Irving got in on the action. Mirotic cut the deficit to 78-69 but a runner in the lane by Kevin Durant and a George dunk were enough to put the outcome of the game beyond doubt.
DeAndre Jordan was a force to be reckoned with inside, with 9 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks. Thompson and Lowry scored a number of timely baskets throughout the game to deflate Spain. Thompson finished with a game-high 22 points and Lowry had 9 points and 3 assists in 15 minutes.
All images are from FIBA.
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