Victory was never in doubt after a dominant second quarter, inspired by Kevin Durant, which saw the Americans pull 23 points clear at halftime.
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Sunday’s victory also perfectly ended the overall USA showing in Rio where they had also won the first of 306 golds from shooter Virginia Thrasher and topped the final medal table with 121 medals from a 46-37-38 haul.
Kevin Durant gave Golden State Warriors fans goose bumps, showing he still belongs among the NBA’s elite. So will he come back for a shot at his third gold medal and the scoring title in 2020? Team USA led Serbia by 36 points after the third quarter.
Team USA claimed the final gold medal of the Olympics on Sunday, keeping them in the No. 1 spot with 46 gold medals, 37 silver and 38 bronze.
Taurasi extended her record-setting pace from the three-point line.
But it was the defense, which was much-maligned during pool play, that turned what had the potential to be a competitive game into a rout. “I know this is the end”.
By the time Lindsay Whalen’s layup just beat the halftime buzzer, the US led 49-32 and Spain had just two baskets in the final 6:55 of the half.
The U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team poses for a photo during a news conference.
The US led 52-29 after two quarters, 79-43 after three before they won another one-sided game.
Team USA closed out the Summer Games in style, by bludgeoning Serbia 96-66 during the gold medal final in men’s basketball. His 155 points (19.3 per game) were the second-highest total of all-time for USA Basketball, just one point behind his 2012 performance.
Colangelo was brought in to the United States of America basketball fold to rehabilitate a program that took bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Every other player on the roster, including Kyrie Irving, earned their first gold medal in their first Olympic appearance.
In the bronze medal match, Sergio Rodriguez converted two free throws with 5.4 seconds left as Spain salvaged an 89-88 victory over Australia who finished fourth a fourth time the past seven Olympics.
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The rout capped a brilliant tenure as Team USA head coach for Krzyzewski, who signs off having guided the U.S.to three consecutive Olympic gold medals and a near flawless 88-1 record in worldwide competition.
