The outcome of the game would have been a little different if Kyrie Irving made the decision to play against Team USA, as he had previously considered playing for his birth country, Australia.
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Things remained tight in the second half, but Anthony provided a spark with 14 points in the fourth quarter to extend USA’s Olympic winning streak to 20 games. “I know everyone’s proud of us because we weren’t supposed to beat these guys, but we had the belief we could compete with them and we’re disappointed with the result”, he said. “My teammates found me when I was open”. “Most athletes don’t have an opportunity to say that they won a gold medal, better yet three gold medals”, Anthony said. When Australia cut the lead to four points, Irving hit a three-pointer with 1:35 left in the game.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, in the middle of a Team USA tenure that has resurrected America’s supremacy in the game, then told the youngster he needed to think bigger.
That would mean they could not face the USA until either the gold or bronze medal match in Rio.
“The Australian media is saying, “This is the best thing ever, you battled, we’re proud of you” – but we’re disappointed”, Bogut said after Wednesday’s near-miss. The third game was definitely a tough nut to crack for the Americans, and they couldn’t be sure of a consecutive win until the very last minute of the match. That’s an attitude change. “We’re going to have to do a better job matching them”.
The Aussies have four National Basketball Association champion players and established themselves as perhaps the Americans’ biggest rivals for gold.
Canada’s win also clinched a spot in the quarterfinals for the USA, and the teams will play Friday.
It’s true. The Aussies spanked France by 21 points on the tournament’s opening day, followed it up with a 15-point victory over Serbia and looked as credible as they ever have against Team USA. while also making you wonder how risky they might have been had they been able to throw a youngster named Ben Simmons at the scalding-hot Anthony as opposed to the clunkier big men at Australia’s disposal who don’t have the foot speed or agility to keep up with Melo. Team Venezuela tends to be tough and controlled tempo. Anthony played power forward against the Aussies, a position he excelled at on offense by beating his bulkier defender with his quickness and agility. He opened the game with a flurry of triples, then hit several big shots in the fourth quarter when the game was still close.
Canada’s win also clinched a spot in the quarterfinals for the U.S., and the teams will play Friday with the unbeaten Canadians needing a better start than they managed against the African nation still looking for its first Olympic win in its second games.
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In other matches it was: Spain 89 China 68; United States 110 Serbia 84.
