DeMarcus Cousins added 13 points and 15 rebounds in 17 minutes of action, while Klay Thompson chipped in 12 points.
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Rio de Janeiro – The U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team won its third straight gold medal and did it easily, beating Serbia 96-66 on Sunday.
Two 3-pointers before a steal and dunk pushed the US lead into double digits, and when he capped what may been the Americans’ best possessions in Rio, when they whipped the ball from side to side around the perimeter until it ended up in the hands of Durant, and then in the net.
Since Colangelo joined Team USA in 2005, the United States has won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics to go along with seven other FIBA championships, winning 76 straight games along the way.
On Sunday against Serbia, he racked up an Olympics-high 30 points and led Team USA to the gold medal.
However, it’s also important to note in the grander scheme of things that numerous players turned down an opportunity to play for this team.
“This is it for me”, said an emotional Carmelo Anthony during the celebrations after winning his third gold medal on Sunday.
“I know this is the end”. This is it for me. I committed to this in ’04. Anthony said. “I’ve seen both sides of it”.
Based on Durant’s performance in the gold-medal game against Serbia, it seems like he’s over all that.
RIO DE JANEIRO Geno Auriemma, coach of the US women’s Olympic gold medal-winning basketball team, says he is constantly reminded that, “It’s not whether you win or lose – until you lose”. Despite of everything that’s going on right now in our country, we gotta be united.
The U.S. especially cranked up their defense; opponents averaged 92 points against the U.S.in their last three pool play games, until the Americans clamped down defensively to allow just 73 points per game in medal play.
Durant had 14 points in the pivotal spurt, including a spectacular steal and fast break slam dunk that brought the loudest roar from US fans.
Kevin Durant was the team’s leading scorer, dropping 30 points on 10-for-19 shooting with five made 3-pointers.
But, Durant came alive in the second quarter.
Durant said last month that he took refuge in his house for two days after announcing his decision to leave the Thunder for the Warriors.
At the finish, the Americans were dancing at mid-court in celebration.
The 2016 class under coach Mike Krzyewski may not have had quite the flair of past teams but overcame some testing group games with narrow wins over Australia, France and Serbia for another gold.
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The blowout win capped a remarkable 12-year journey around the five interlocking rings for Anthony, only 20 and fresh off his rookie year in the National Basketball Association when he played on a 2004 team remembered for failure.
