Team USA might have had numerous close games on their way to a gold medal, but nobody can complain about the end result. We got a lot of work to do but one step at a time.
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More significantly, Serbia had given the United States their biggest scare in Rio, battling the Americans right down to the final buzzer in a Group A clash that offered up at least the possibility of an intriguing final. Team USA is on a 76 game winning streak.
“We did a good job of bottling all that up and unleashed it on Serbia”, George said. Anthony first represented the United States 12 years ago when Team USA won bronze at the Olympic Games under Larry Brown.
With the victory Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson joined one of basketball’s most exclusive clubs, becoming just the eighth and ninth players to win Olympic and FIBA world championship gold and an NBA title.
The U.S. Men’s Basketball team started out slow against Serbia in the gold match, but caught up making plays and scoring in spurts securely a 96-66 win in style.
Carmelo Anthony’s Olympic swan song ended with an emotional farewell to his USA teammates.
Durant finished with 30 and DeMarcus Cousins added 13 in a balanced USA attack.
Krzyzewski said it didn’t matter how the Americans won, that there would be no questions as long as they did.
Anthony has never won an National Basketball Association ring, but says he wouldn’t trade his gold medals for anything.
Update: Claressa Shields defeated Netherlands’ Nouchka Fontijn to win back-to-back gold medals in women’s boxing.
Yet it was clear on the USA bench at the end, amid a hearty round of hugs for Anthony when the medal shade began to sink in, that Krzyzewski was as fond of this group as any of the squads that preceded it.
DeAndre Jordan went to the stands at Carioca Arena and collected an American flag, which he initially wrapped himself in like a blanket before holding it high over his head for all to see.
He received responses to his interview on Twitter for saying “America will be great again” at one point – causing people to wonder if he supports presidential candidate Donald Trump whose slogan is “Make America great again”.
This was the first Olympic medal for Serbia since 1996 Atlanta Games, when the then Yugoslavia won the silver medal after losing to the US. The heart of an worldwide power in the former Yugoslavia, the Serbs hadn’t qualified for the Olympics since gaining their independence in 2006.
Former Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant, who had been inconsistent throughout the tournament, saved his best for last, leading all players with thirty points. Their defence was outstanding, their passing ideal and their rivals simply had no response, with shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic ice cold from long range as the underdogs trailed 52-29 at half-time. It was a terrific Olympic games for them, and will look to evolve the sport even more in their country.
The Americans, led by Durant, outscored the Serbians 33-14 in the second quarter to take a 52-29 halftime lead.
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The Syracuse basketball legend completed his stint with Team USA in style and got emotional afterward.
