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Game Rewind: USA 105, Argentina 78 (Quarterfinals)

A slight lineup change and revised substitution pattern helped Team USA find its groove Wednesday, as it broke free from Argentina, 105-78, in a semifinal game of the Olympic basketball tournament.

The victory advanced the U.S. team to a "final four" game against Spain on Friday. The gold medal game will be played on Sunday.

Kevin Durant led the U.S. scoring with 27 points, hitting 7-of-9 three-pointers, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. Pacers forward Paul George followed with 17, hitting 8-of-14 field goals, and nine rebounds.

George helped lead the U.S. back from an early 14-7 deficit, which it dug with rushed shots and negligent defense. The first sub off the bench, he replaced Carmelo Anthony, who had missed his first three shots. George contributed immediately, scoring the next basket on a layup after keeping the possession alive with an offensive rebound.

He later picked off a steal in Argentina's halfcourt, and converted a dunk to complete a 7-0 run that brought the U.S. within three and forced an Argentina timeout. With three more reserves joining George and Durant in the game, Team USA went on a 27-2 run to take control. It led by as many as 25 points, 56-31, late in the half before and was never threatened again by the aging Argentinians.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski started Deandre Jordan in place of DeMarcus Cousins at center, and Cousins responded with 15 points off the bench. Krzyzewski also kept Durant in the game for awhile with George, Cousins, Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler, the lineup that led the U.S. comeback.

"I think he's found a lineup," television commentator Doug Collins said.

Collins once again had high praise for George, who added two steals and two blocks in another complete performance. George was assigned to Argentinian point guard Facundo Campazzo after Campazzo had sparked his team's fast start, and contained him the rest of the half.

"Tonight is the Paul George we see in the NBA," Collins said.

"If I had a game ball tonight, I'd give one to Paul George," he added later. "Obviously Kevin Durant, you see his points, but Paul George has had his hand in a lot of the good action that happened for the United States at both ends of the floor."

The roster for Friday's opponent, Spain, includes NBA players Pau Gasol (San Antonio), Nicola Mirotic (Chicago), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota), Jose Calderon (Los Angeles Lakers) and Rudy Fernandez, who formerly played for Portland and Denver.

Team USA's performance was a welcomed departure from its previous three games, when it defeated Australia by 10 points, Serbia by three and France by three.

"We played with passion and energy tonight," Durant said.

"We've got to use this game and try to build on it."

The game marked the end of an era for Argentinian basketball, as Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola and Andres Nocioni completed their Olympic careers. That group was the foundation of the team that won the gold medal in the FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis in 2002 and the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. It defeated the U.S. team along the way, the most recent loss for Team USA in the Olympics.

The 39-year-old Ginobili, who finished with 14 points, was presented with the game ball afterward. The 36-year-old Scola, who played two seasons with the Pacers from 2013-15, led Argentina with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but hit just 6-of-17 field goal attempts.

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