The one two punch of Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving carried the U.S.in crunch time, scoring every point in the fourth quarter.
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Kyrie Irving, who was born in Melbourne and at one point considered playing for Australia, contributed 19 points to the USA cause, including a clutch three-pointer with 1:35 to play and two free throws in the dying seconds to ease frayed nerves.
Irving – born in Australia – added 19 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:35 left after Australia had closed within four.
They were forced to prove their mettle early, withstanding a scoring barrage from Carmelo Anthony who dropped 14 first quarter points, including the first nine of the game for the Americans.
As Team USA (4-0) continues to dominate the preliminary rounds of the men’s basketball in the Rio 2016 Olympics, Anthony keeps on earning more points in the process. George was inserted for the struggling Klay Thompson in the starting five on Wednesday, but this trio can help get the USA out of trouble at times (if they’re in some again) with stops, switching and still be able to score the basketball with guys like Anthony or Kevin Durant playing the four.
Team USA’s defense, which had stymied opponents throughout exhibition play and preliminary play, allowed Australia to shoot 67.9 percent in the first half, with National Basketball Association players Andrew Bogut, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Joe Ingles combining to start 14-for-16 and helping Australia to a 54-49 lead at halftime.
With his haul, Anthony moved past James for most points at the Games for the all-conquering United States of America men’s team. They want to become the first Australian team to win an Olympic medal – and they have their sights set on gold. That’s the first real, real worldwide game that we’ve played.
“They’re the best team in the world, we battled them and we thought we should’ve been in a position to try and grind out a closer game”.
“I was waiting for a wake-up call and getting hit by this tough Australian team is what I needed”.
Anthony’s final stat line included 31 points, eight rebounds, two offensive boards, one assist, and two steals.
“This is the real world now”, USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
As the veteran within a young team, Melo has assumed the role of leader and grasped it with both hands to pull the team through a sticky situation against Australia on Wednesday night.
Having steamrolled their two previous opponents, the United States of America hasn’t had to really lock in yet and the furious pressure the Boomers played at caught them off guard a little.
However, Anthony set the tone as the USA roared back to extend their winning Olympic run to 20 games stretching back to a semi-final defeat to Argentina in Athens 12 years ago. “Australia has probably played the best of any team in this tournament”. After all on the very first day for basketball, Australia took down France by 21 points.
With the game tied at 72 in the fourth quarter, the Americans went on to outscore Australia 26-16.
Now, Irving and Coach K work together to bring another gold medal to USA Basketball.
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George said the U.S. team rose to the physical challenge after emerging from halftime.
