US routs Argentina 105-78, moves into men’s basketball semis
Ponca City Now - August 18, 2016 9:12 am
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – The nail-biters ended for the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team.
So did a golden era of international basketball.
Emphatically stopping a stretch of three straight close games, the Americans advanced to the semifinals by sprinting past Manu Ginobili and Argentina, 105-78 on Wednesday night.
In front of a chanting, flag-waving crowd of Argentines who came to throw a raucous farewell party for their Golden Generation, the Americans delivered their most complete performance in Rio.
Turning a slow start into an early ending with a 27-2 run in the first half, the Americans put away one old rival and set up a meeting with another. They will play Spain on Friday in a rematch of the last two gold-medal games.
Former Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Americans, who had played three straight close games for the first time under coach Mike Krzyzewski.
United States' Kevin Durant (5) reacts to a score against Argentina during a men's quarterfinal round basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
