The Americans outlasted the upset-minded Aussies 98-88 as Anthony scored a game-high 31 points, 14 in the fourth quarter, and Irving sank 12 of his 19 in the last period.
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“One of the most prolific worldwide players of all-time, a gold medal at the Rio Games will also make Anthony the United States” most decorated men’s Olympic basketball player.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving took over from there, with no shot bigger than his three-pointer from the right wing with 1:35 left that put the Americans up 93-86.
The Aussies led by two points early in the final quarter and the USA had to pull out all stops to get the job done, led by veteran Carmelo Anthony who had 31 points including nine 3-point shots.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Down at halftime and trailing in the fourth quarter, the USA’s close, intense game against Australia on Wednesday was necessary for the defending Olympic and World Cup gold medalists. His teammate and 2013 graduate from WSU, Brock Motum, only played three minutes and recorded one rebound.
“We just also played harder”, he said, adding that Team USA will also improve from the fight Australia offered, even though struggle is nothing new for the players on the roster.
Prior to the start of the 2016 Olympic games in Rio, LeBron James was Team USA’s all-time leading scorer with a total of 273 points to his name. The Aussies followed that up with a 15 point win over Serbia and then gave the Americans a real scare. Anthony scored 14 of the team’s 29 points in the first quarter.
Anthony led a long-range shooting barrage with US hitting 17 three-pointers to Australia’s seven, a difference that accounted for the final 10-point margin. “They play so well together as one”.
Australians are 0-19 against U.S. squads but the full-game test posed by the “Boomers” was in many ways their finest hour on the court, although not to Aussie star Andrew Bogut.
Their second game was played against Venezuela on Monday 8th August 2016.
“(Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski) was a huge part of the decision”, said Irving.
“We missed a lot of shots and they were moving pretty freely on offense so we know we have to get a bit more physical”. And USA team, eventually won the game. The Boomers were able to earn more admirers, though, as they proved their determination to nab the Olympic gold medal after winning against France and Serbia.
The Serbs managed to erase a 20-4 French advantage and proceeded to build a five-point lead late in the fourth quarter before the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker nailed the go-ahead jumper with 31 seconds remaining.
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Put a Team USA jersey on Anthony every night and the New York Knicks might be National Basketball Association champions.
