The Americans got their gold, and they did it easily.
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A Serbian team that tested the U.S. squad before falling 94-91 in a group stage game – the closest call in the Americans’ Olympic win streak – stayed close for barely a quarter before the National Basketball Association playmakers began going wild. I’m a lifer in the game.
Saving their best for last in a tournament that had been tough, the Americans convincingly won their third straight gold medal, beating Serbia 96-66 on Sunday.
“I’ve been really a lucky guy, collegiately and internationally to be part of championship teams”, said Krzyzewski, commonly called “Coach K”.
“To go home as gold medalists and leave Coach K off with another gold was one of our main goals as well”, Durant said.
The U.S. has won 15 of the 19 gold medals handed out in men’s basketball. With a wealth of talent returning and waiting in the wings, it doesn’t look like the unprecedented run will be ending anytime soon. At the end of one, Serbia trailed by just four at the end of one quarter and looked like they may challenge the US for gold.
On social media, players reacted to the Gold Medal win in celebratory fashion.
“I’m just proud of the fact that Jerry Colangelo when he took over, he gave me an opportunity”, said Krzyzewski, who modestly deflected any credit for his success and instead praised veterans like team captain Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant.
Geno Auriemma turned to something very familiar to him to spark the Americans in the gold medal game on Saturday.
Serbia was on a run of impressive performances in their own right.
The Americans haven’t lost since, winning 25 straight in the Olympics.
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Two 3-pointers before a steal and dunk pushed the USA 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.
