USA Men Defeat Spain, Reach Third Straight Gold Medal Game

(photo credit: USA Basketball)

The United States Men’s Basketball Team has been faced with many challenges during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, as they’ve had tightly-contested games with Australia, Serbia, and France during pool play. Things didn’t get any easier for the Americans this time around when they faced their rival Spain for the right to go the gold medal game.

As always, the Spaniards gave the U.S. a very tough time, but the Americans pulled it out in another classic, as they outlasted Spain 82-76. This means the Americans will be heading to their third straight gold medal game. The United States never trailed in the game, but they were never able to pull away from the pesky Spaniards. 

Kevin Durant made some United States history today, as he surpassed LeBron James for second all-time in points scored. Durant scored seven points in the first quarter, which helped the United States take a 26-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. The U.S. extended that lead to ten, but it didn’t last much longer. Spain went on a 7-0 run which cut the Americans’ lead to 33-30. The second quarter was filled with technical fouls, as both teams combined to have six technical fouls in the quarter, including one on Durant, which gave him three personal fouls. 

The United States wound up leading 45-39 heading into the halftime break. Every time the United States was starting to create some separation, Spain simply wouldn’t go away. The Americans built a ten point lead to start the third quarter, but Spain would cut the lead to five with about five minutes left in the quarter. Spain would lose some ground by the end of the quarter, as the U.S. held the 66-57 lead after three quarters. The United States took their largest lead of the game (72-57) with seven minutes left, and Spain was unable to come back from there. 

They did outscore the U.S. 11-4 to end the game, but it was a little too late, and the Americans went on to win 82-76. Klay Thompson scored 22 points to lead the Americans, while DeAndre Jordan provided a strong game all-around for the United States. Jordan scored nine points, and he grabbed 16 rebounds, which tied an Olympic record. 

Pau Gasol wasn’t expected to play for Spain because of injury, but he played through it, and ended up scoring a game-high 23 points. The U.S. Men have now won 24 straight games in the Olympics, as they’ll take on Serbia in the gold medal game on Sunday. The United States defeated Serbia by three points in pool play. Spain will take on Australia in the bronze medal game on Sunday morning.