TOKYO, July 31 (Reuters) – The United States claimed a berth in the men’s Olympic basketball quarter-finals on Saturday as seed patterns for next week’s final eight games were taken.
Kevin Durant led the US team 119-84 against the Czech Republic in the final group game at the Sydama Super Arena north of Tokyo.
The United States finished 2-1 ahead of the United States after abandoning the opener against France, their first Olympic loss since 2004.
“We will all try to find each other. This is really our third game together, ”said Jui Holiday, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team. “But Katie came in and we knew we would do what he always did.”
The American team started off slowly against the Czech team and were lagging behind at the end of the first quarter. But the Americans won in the second half thanks to a three-point shot from Durant and Jason Tottam.
In previous matches, France and Australia have completed their sweep of the starting groups.
Real Madrid’s Thomas Hirtel took the lead with 16 points as France beat Iran 79-62. They went 3-0 in Group A, including Team USA’s shocking loss on Sunday.
Despite his team’s dominance so far, Evan Fornier would not have guessed France’s medal chances.
“Quarter-finals first. Focus on that, ”said Fornier, who plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. “We beat the best teams several times, we lost in the semi-finals, so no more than that.”
Syntilization Mills
Australia’s Grandma Mills was behind by 3 points, winning 89-76 in Group B against Germany.
Australia will go without qualifying for the quarter-finals Aaron Baines The man who quit the game after aggravating a neck injury after slipping in the bathroom.
Germany and the Czech Republic finished 1-2, but the Germans advanced to the quarter-finals on Tuesday. The last eight places remain and will go to the winner of Argentina against Japan in Group C on Sunday.
Italy qualified for the first leg 2-1. Nico Manian filtered out three points in the final 30 seconds to keep him from coming back from Nigeria, his side winning 80-71.
“Honestly, it was nice to see someone come in. I shot terribly all night, ”said Manion, who plays for the NBA Golden State Warriors. “But you know, shooters are shooting all the time.
The United States team is a historic winning team with a record 139-6 and 15 gold medals since 1936.
But as the game became more popular around the world, many national teams were able to field players with NBA experience, and the advantage of American talent narrowed.
Before losing to France in the Olympics, the United States lost two consecutive exhibition games this month, in which Nigeria, ranked 22nd in the world, lost.
Iran and Nigeria ended their Olympic tours unsuccessfully and said bitter farewell words.
Travel restrictions on Iran prevent the team from playing friendlies, while Nigerian Chimesi Mettu Demolished National government due to lack of support.
“Our government and the Nigerian Olympic Committee make it very difficult for us to get there and focus on our sport,” he said.
Rocky Swift statement; Muralikumar Anandaraman / Sri Navaratnam / Hugh Lawson / Ken Ferris
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