They’re enjoying every moment in Rio de Janeiro, but Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant said one moment in particular has been his favorite. The Olympics are underway.
Advertisement
The U.S. men’s basketball team is dominating the Olympic court, pulling off a win over Australia to sit atop the leaderboard in the group phase. Maybe not stunned, but the USA men’s basketball team, widely perceived to be invincible until Wednesday night’s scare at Carioca Arena 1, at least appeared a bit shaken.
Despite Anthony’s success at the Olympic stage, his National Basketball Association resume is yet to witness a solitary trip to the finals, let alone a championship.
Carmelo Anthony came to Team USA’s rescue with a record-breaking effort on Wednesday as the defending Olympic basketball champions beat Australia 98-88 in a thrilling encounter to extend their overall winning streak to 20 games. The Australians, with big bodies inside, quality point guards to counter the American pressure, and a wealth of National Basketball Association championship experience, stood toe to toe with the team that had blown them out of the last two Olympics in the quarterfinals.
Talented no doubt, but playing with 10 first-time Olympians and six players with no prior worldwide experience at the senior level, the Americans needed a challenge after five lopsided pre-Olympic exhibition games and two blowout Olympics games against China and Venezuela.
He’s the leader on this team and we have a leader like that that’s going to leave it all on the floor, no matter what possession is going on throughout the game.
Although James and some other National Basketball Association stars passed on a chance to play in Brazil, Anthony signed up again and is making the most of what will undoubtedly be his final games.
The Americans, who had barely broken a sweat in Brazil, trailed early in the fourth quarter before Anthony hit a flurry of 3-pointers to put the Americans on top.
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.
After five easy exhibitions preceding routs of China and Venezuela to open the tournament, the Americans trailed 72-70 with about 9 minutes left.
Carmelo rescues Team USA from disaster in vintage show: For two games at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the tests thrown at Team USA men’s basketball team was as tough as a third-grade arithmetic quiz for Einstein.
Alba Torrens scored 32 points to lead Spain to an 89-68 win over China on Wednesday as the Spaniards improved their position in women’s basketball group play behind the undefeated US and Canada.
Carmelo Anthony is really cementing his spot as the best player to ever represent the United States of America. “So we needed a real test, and we got by the test”.
An enraged Krzyzewski screamed at an official after Andrew Bogut’s hard foul on Irving just in front of the USA bench in the third quarter, his face looking as red as the shirts the coaching staff wore.
Taurasi scored 22 of her Olympic-best 25 points in the first half to help the Americans beat Serbia 110-84 on Wednesday. We have things to work on and we will do that, ‘ Bogut said. Then the Aussies gave the team ranked No. 1 all it could handle.
Anthony’s Olympic odyssey began with a disappointing performance in Athens, where the Americans staggered to a bronze medal and worldwide embarrassment. They quickly blew away Venezuela after it was 18-18 Monday, but the only second-quarter surge in this one was made by the Australians. “They make you play defense, and then we fouled a lot as a result of that, because you have to play it longer.” says United States coach Mike Krzyzewski. “My teammates was making sure I was aware of the situation, but tonight was one of those nights where I wanted to let the game come to me and take the shots that was given to me, take the open shots and kind of play basketball”.
Irving once considered playing for Australia, where he was born while his father was playing there professionally.
Irving exchanged a pregame hug with Matthew Dellavedova, his former backup in Cleveland, but things didn’t stay nice for long.
The Aussies hit hard and the Americans hit back, with George getting a technical foul for a shot at Dellavedova.
Advertisement
Anthony has played in 26 Olympic games, another USA record. Following that, they will face Tony Parker’s France on Sunday in the final game of the preliminary round.
