Kevin Durant, Team USA Too For Joe Ingles And Australia In Olympic Semifinal
Ingles’ baby boomers to play next bronze medal game
(Eric Gay | AP) American Kevin Durant (7), center, takes pressure from Australian Joe Ingles (7), right, in the men’s basketball semi-final match at the Olympic Games in summer of 2020, Thursday, August 5, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.
Saitama, Japan • Kevin Durant and the Americans still have their grip on gold and it will take more than a few bad minutes for anyone to take it away from them.
They were awful at first and then awesome against Australia.
Durant scored 23 points, Devin Booker had 20 and the United States topped and finally beat the Australians 97-78 on Thursday in the men’s Olympic basketball semi-final after falling into a 15-point hole.
As their gold medal streak looked threatened midway through the second quarter, the Americans led the Australians with a 48-14 streak that gave them a 74-55 lead after three periods.
The United States missed their first 10 attempts by 3 points and only touched it at the end of the second quarter, then it looked like the Americans had hardly missed it again, with Booker making three 3 points.
Jrue Holiday has collected 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the United States, which will face Slovenia or European champion France on Saturday for a fourth consecutive gold medal. The French beat the Americans 83-76 in their first Olympic game.
It was part of a 2-3 summer start for the United States, which included a loss to the Australians in an exhibition game in Las Vegas.
Americans don’t look like this team anymore.
They look like the best team in the world, like those who won gold with ease.
Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles had nine points, two rebounds and two assists in the evening.
Patty Mills scored 15 points for Australia, who still need a win for their first Olympic basketball medal.