USA Basketball Defeats Spain 95-81, Advances to Olympic Semifinals

by:Nick Roush08/03/21

@RoushKSR

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

USA Basketball sent Spain packing for the fifth straight Olympics. Playing in the wee hours of the morning, Kevin Durant’s 29 points propelled Team USA to a 95-81 victory in the Tokyo Olympic quarterfinals.

The world’s second-ranked team came ready to play against Team USA, jumping out to an 11-point second quarter lead. The Americans never panicked, responding with a 7-0 run before half. They carried that momentum out of the halftime locker room with a dominant third quarter, out-scoring the Spaniards 22-6 in the opening minutes of the period.

Durant’s 29-point game is one of the top ten scoring performances in U.S. men’s basketball Olympic history. The Americans leaned on the Brooklyn Nets star in the final minutes, making a couple buckets and finding an open Jrue Holiday for three to secure the win.

Bam Adebayo was a steady presence in the paint for Team USA, finishing with five points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Devin Booker struggled to find his shot, making just 4-of-13 attempts, yet still approached a double-double with nine points and nine boards. Keldon Johnson did not make an appearance in the box score.

After another Olympics ended with a loss to Team USA, the Gasol brothers announced this would be their last. Pau, 41, revealed this is his final international tournament. His younger brother Marc, 36, will join him in retirement.

With the win, USA Basketball secured a spot in the Summer Olympic semifinals. They’ll take on the winner of Australia-Argentina Thursday at 12:15 am.

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