The battle for the gold is underway in Rio as the men’s basketball teams have completed the preliminary round. Let’s take a look at the results and schedule for members of the New York Knicks representing their countries in Brazil.
Carmelo Anthony - USA Previous Outing:Despite falling behind by 10 points, Team USA reversed the course of action by blasting Argentina on a 20-0 run in the first half. The Americans defense came to life and the 105-78 win propelled the squad to the semifinals. Anthony registered seven points, five boards, and two assists in 13 minutes.
Next Up:Team USA advanced to the semifinals where it will face Spain in a rematch of the 2012 gold medal game in London. Tipoff set for 2:30 PM EDT on Friday.
Willy Hermangomez - SpainPrevious Outing:Spain captured its fourth straight victory on Wednesday afternoon by toppling France 92-67. The Spaniards slow start in the preliminary round seems to be a distant memory as the squad enters the semifinals for the third time in a row. Hermangomez turned in his best performance of the Olympics by posting 16 points and five rebounds in just 17 minutes of court time.
Next Up:Spain meets Team USA on Friday at 2:30 PM EDT.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas – LithuaniaPrevious Outing:Kuzminskas played a team-high 30 minutes in the 90-64 defeat to Australia on Wednesday morning. The small forward was regulated to six points but he managed to grab six boards in the final Olympic game for Lithuania in 2016. The experience in Rio for Kuzminskas was positive, considering he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He also hit 53.2 percent from the floor in six outings.
Next Up:The timetable is unclear for the remainder of the summer and when Kuzminskas will make the trek to New York and begin his career with the Knicks. It will be interesting to see if his game will translate at the NBA level and how his athleticism from the wing spot can provide New York with some depth on the bench.