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| Pau Gasol and the Spaniards are back in the Olympic Finals for a second date with the Americans. |
SPAIN over RUSSIA, 67-59
Spain trailed by 13 points in the first half against Russia, but came out fighting after the break and won to reach the Finals of the Olympics for the second time in a row.
Silver-medal winners in 2008 after losing one of the greatest title games in the history of the Games in Beijing, the Spaniards set up a rematch with the Americans.
David Blatt’s Russians stamped their authority on the game from the start, holding Spain to just four points in the opening five minutes and a total of only nine by the first quarter’s end.
Led by captain Sergei Monya, who made all three of his shots from beyond the arc, Russia went in front by 13 before taking a 31-20 lead at halftime.
Ignited by their defense, however, Spain roared back in the third quarter.
After a long baseline jumper from Russia center Timofey Mozgov, Pau Gasol replied with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 44-41. Following a Monya miss, Gasol followed a Felipe Reyes miss on the other end with a dunk to cut the deficit to one.
Anton Ponkrashov, who has been terrific for Russia this summer, nailed a free throw line jumper, but Jose Calderon's three-pointer tied the game at 46-46 to close the third quarter.
A Ponkrashov three-point play put Russia back in front in the final frame, but Spain wasn’t to be denied. They answered with a 9-0 run.
Spain kept up the defensive pressure, forcing Russia to turn the ball over 13 times in the second half after committing just three in the first. The Spaniards eventually pulled away for an impressive victory.
Pau Gasol had 16 points, Calderon 14 and Marc Gasol and Rudy Fernandez 11 apiece for Spain.
Sasha Kaun’s 14 points led Russia.
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| Jose Calderon came up big as Spain avenged its earlier loss to the erstwhile unbeaten Russians. |
USA over ARGENTINA, 109-83
The United States pulled away from Argentina in the second half on Friday night and set up a rematch with Spain in the Olympic Finals.
Leading 51-46 with 7:51 to go in the third quarter after a Manu Ginobili three-point play for Argentina, the USA took total control of the contest.
Kevin Durant drilled two three-pointers as part of an 8-0 run to make it 59-46 for the defending champs.
After an Andres Nocioni three and a short jumper from Manu Ginobili reduced the gap to just 8 for Argentina, LeBron James scored five straight points to extend the lead again.
Mike Krzyzewski's team went on to lead 74-57 by the end of the third quarter and cruised the rest of the way.
The United States surpassed the 100-point mark for the fifth time at the London
Games.
Durant had four triples in the fourth quarter and finished with 19 points, while Carmelo Anthony hit four treys of his own in the final frame – including three in a row - and finished with 18 points.
While America is now just one victory away from a successful Olympic title defense, Argentina will attempt to win the bronze medal again. After beating Lithuania in the battle for third place in Beijing, they will go up against Russia on Sunday.
Ginobili had 18 points and both Luis Scola and Carlos Delfino 15 for Argentina.
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| Chris Paul and LeBron James helped Team USA repeat over Argentina in the London Olympics. |
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| The Americans have been dominant for most of these games, but it will all be for naught if they fail to bring home the gold. |
Source: Recaps are from london2012.fiba.com. Images are from london2012.com.
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