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Tatum, USA Down Aussies to Reach Gold Medal Game
8/5/2021 9:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TOKYO (USA Basketball) — Kevin Durant scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team (4-1) came back from a 15-point deficit to surge past Australia (4-1) in the semifinals of the 2020 Olympic Games. With a 97-78 win at Saitama Super Arena, the U.S. earned a shot at a fourth straight gold medal.
The Americans France (5-0), who edged out Slovenia (4-1), 90-89, in Friday's 10:30 p.m. EDT gold medal game on Peacock.
Devin Booker came on strong in the second half and scored 20 points for the U.S., while former Duke star Jayson Tatum had nine points, three rebounds, two assists and a plus/minus of +10 in 19 minutes for the American side.
For about the first 15 minutes, the U.S. looked ragged. Dante Exum lobbed a pass to Jock Landale for a dunk, giving Australia a 41-26 advantage with 5:23 left.
USA coach Gregg Popovich said the team's defensive effort early was "pretty poor," which carried over to the offensive end.
"When we pointed it out, they reacted," Popovich said. "In the last five minutes of the second quarter, they were fantastic, and it continued into the third. I give them credit for understanding the game as well as being able to accept the truth. Because you can be with some players that you can tell them something, but they don't buy it because they can't handle certain kinds of criticism. But these guys want the truth, and they react to it."
France beat the U.S. 83-76 to open play in Saitama — one of only six losses the Americans have suffered in 148 Olympic games.
"We respect every team here," said USA guard Damian Lillard, who had five points and three rebounds against Australia. "A lot of these guys have played together for years and years and years. They come play FIBA, and the Olympics and all these things all the time together. And for us, we're just putting a team together of a bunch of talented individuals trying to become a team in a short amount of time. I think now we're starting to gel and become more of a team, and we're starting to play better."
#GoDuke
The Americans France (5-0), who edged out Slovenia (4-1), 90-89, in Friday's 10:30 p.m. EDT gold medal game on Peacock.
Devin Booker came on strong in the second half and scored 20 points for the U.S., while former Duke star Jayson Tatum had nine points, three rebounds, two assists and a plus/minus of +10 in 19 minutes for the American side.
For about the first 15 minutes, the U.S. looked ragged. Dante Exum lobbed a pass to Jock Landale for a dunk, giving Australia a 41-26 advantage with 5:23 left.
USA coach Gregg Popovich said the team's defensive effort early was "pretty poor," which carried over to the offensive end.
"When we pointed it out, they reacted," Popovich said. "In the last five minutes of the second quarter, they were fantastic, and it continued into the third. I give them credit for understanding the game as well as being able to accept the truth. Because you can be with some players that you can tell them something, but they don't buy it because they can't handle certain kinds of criticism. But these guys want the truth, and they react to it."
France beat the U.S. 83-76 to open play in Saitama — one of only six losses the Americans have suffered in 148 Olympic games.
"We respect every team here," said USA guard Damian Lillard, who had five points and three rebounds against Australia. "A lot of these guys have played together for years and years and years. They come play FIBA, and the Olympics and all these things all the time together. And for us, we're just putting a team together of a bunch of talented individuals trying to become a team in a short amount of time. I think now we're starting to gel and become more of a team, and we're starting to play better."
#GoDuke
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