USA thump Argentina 126-97 to top Group A – Second Half Breakdown – Olympics Men Basketball
After having faced a stiff challenge from a strong Argentinean team in the first 20 minutes, USA came out all guns blazing in the second, especially in the third period to put the result of this game beyond any doubt.
LeBron James opened up the scoring for the Americans in the second half and followed a three pointer response from Argentina with 5 more quick unanswered points. Kevin Durant knocked down a three to cap of a 10-3 run after Tyson
Chandler had stolen the ball from Luis Scola. The Americans led by 70-62 at that point.
Scola responded back on the following possession with a deuce but was matched up by Chandler, who made a three point play for USA. Andreas Nocioni added two points to the Argentinean tally on the return visit, but Americans responded
with a 6-0 run as James, Durant and Kobe Bryant managed to knock in 2 points each and prolong the advantage into double figures, 79-66.
The third quarter belonged to Durant who continued to pile on the scoring for team USA. He scored 17 points alone in the third quarter, including 5 triples, while the Americans outscored the Argentineans 42-17 in the stanza on
their way to managing a comfortable lead.
The last possession of the period saw Carmelo Anthony get into the act as well as he connected from long range on an assist from Durant and took USA’s tally past the 100 figure mark inside three.
With the advantage so ample, US Coach Mike Krzyzewski took out his big guns and gave the second unit a chance to get some reasonable game time under their belt.
Deron Williams opened up the scoring of the fourth quarter with a triple. In the next three minutes of the period, Argentina added 9 points while holding their opponents to only two points.
However things returned to its usual order as Anthony Davis got into the act to spark a 6-0 burst for team USA. US continued to cruise for the remaining time in the game and to cap off an impressive team performance, Andre Iguodala
and James Harden knocked down a three pointer each to give the Americans a 29 point win.
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