Team USA defeated Australia in their third game of the 2016 Olympics in Rio on Wednesday.
USA Basketball at 2016 Summer Olympics: Preliminary Round
The U.S. men's national team beat an upset-minded Australian team 98-to-88 to remain undefeated through three games at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Warriors teammates Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green each contributed to the victory, playing over 12 minutes apiece. Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 31, and the Warriors trio combined for 27 in Team USA's closest contest of this Olympic Games. The teams traded leads throughout the game, with the U.S. even trailing by a narrow margin early in the fourth quarter. A fourth quarter scoring outburst by Anthony and Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving helped the Americans secure the lead for good.
Australia proved to be a tough opponent early on, as they matched the U.S. bucket-for-bucket to end the first period tied 29-29. Thompson came off the bench for the first time in Rio, hitting a corner three midway through the first period. Durant's normally hot-start was absent, as he was unable to sink a bucket until he drained a three early in the second. Green added a three of his own in the second period, marking the first game of the 2016 tournament in which all three Warriors teammates hit a shot from beyond the arc.
The U.S. squad trailed at halftime for the first time since the 2004 Olympics in a game they ultimately lost to Argentina. A clutch 9-0 run to open the period gave Team USA the lead, but little breathing room. Thompson added another three in the quarter and Durant drained multiple shots bringing his point total to double digits for the third straight game. In the waning moments of the third, Green converted an and-one to give the U.S. a 70-67 lead heading into the final quarter.
Durant
PTS: 14
REB: 5
AST: 1
Thompson
PTS: 6
REB: 4
AST: 2
Green
PTS: 7
REB: 2
STL: 2
In the fourth period, Anthony and Irving took over scoring the first 23 points for Team USA. Australia tried to fight back, but ultimately came up short despite a 30-point performance from Spurs guard Patty Mills. The Warriors trio, in addition to their 27 points, combined for 11 boards and 5 assists in a game where every play mattered. Team USA survived their biggest test to-date in the 2016 Olympics, and looks to continue their undefeated Rio journey when they take on Serbia on Friday.