Australia’s humbled Boomers hope to bounce back for Rio bronze

Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi each won their fourth gold medal, tied for the most Olympic medals ever won by a women’s basketball player.

The U.S. shot 60 percent outside the arc in the game.

In Wednesday’s win over Argentina, it was the bench – with Cousins alongside Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, (starter) Kevin Durant and Paul George – that made the difference in the Americans’ 27-point win. “It wasn’t easy flowing”.

Klay Thompson scored 22 points and Kevin Durant had 14 points as the US defeated Spain 82-76 Friday in the semifinals. Jordan finished the game with 9 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.

He also traveled on a one-man fast break with no defender in his vicinity.

When asked about the women’s basketball team possibly not getting the attention it deserves for all of its success in these Games, Taurasi offered up a sarcastic response. “We talked about it all summer and to be here for the final game, to win the gold, for all the marbles, we like our chances”. They’re playing a unsafe game, and are in danger of getting burned.

This semifinal was a rematch of the past two gold medal games, and Gasol got off to a solid start. The same two teams were left standing in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup Final, which the US won by 37.

Its roster is chock full of current and former National Basketball Association players, starting with star center Pau Gasol, point guard Ricky Rubio and power forward Nikola Mirotic. Spain trailed by just three points midway through the second quarter, but back-to-back Taurasi three-pointers helped sparked Team USA during a 22-8 that put them by 49-32 at halftime.

The biggest problem for Team USA right now?

Considering Spain had so much trouble grabbing defensive rebounds in this game (U.S. grabbed 43.7 percent of offensive rebounding opportunities), the USA banked on its size and athleticism being enough to make this strategy work.

Team USA defeated long-time rival Spain on the basketball court Friday, 82-76, to reach the Olympic men’s basketball final.

“We won and that’s what matters”, he said. The American sprinters were rather displeased – Mike Rodgers used a word that we’re not allowed to repeat here.

“We’ve got one game”, said Team USA captain Carmelo Anthony.

But in two months together, the players have grown close.

“It’s an awesome feeling now”, center DeAndre Jordan said.

“I know this group and the pride they have in the way they play the game and the way they represent Australian basketball on the global stage”, Lemanis said.