After playing Team USA tight in a 98-88 loss on August 10th in the Rio Olympic games, most fans expected Aron Baynes of the Detroit Pistons and the Australian men’s basketball team to find themselves in a rematch against the tournament favorites in the gold medal game.
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Pau Gasol had a game-high 31 points and 11 rebounds in what might have been his last worldwide contest, while Patty Mills scored 30, capping an impressive tournament for the Spurs’ reserve guard that came just short of the team’s goal of an Olympic medal.
But then Patty Mills, who scored 30 points to lead the Boomers, was called for a blocking foul on Sergio Rodriguez as the guard drove to the hoop.
“It’s disappointing we weren’t able to get a shot away on that last possession to give ourselves a chance”, said Mills, whom the Aussies meant to take the final shot.
“They deserved to be rewarded with a medal”.
“It’s disappointing when they get their last four points at the line on no clear fouls and we’re having to create from the field”. His cause was aided when Australia’s Andrew Bogut fouled out with just under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“It’s unbelievable. You can just dive into guys and get calls like that”, Bogut said.
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“It felt like we were playing a different sport at times”. “Questionable calls all game”. The superman dived into me and the referees bought it. “There’s no real positive you can take out of this for us”. Spain’ gold-medal hopes were curbed when his brother Marc, along with Serge Ibaka, were ruled out of the Olympics, so a bronze finish is nothing to snuff at. “This is a game to watch again”. We all know what we have been through.
