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Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008

U.S. advances to gold-medal game

BEIJING — The United States men’s basketball team is looking for a little “R and R” at the Beijing Olympics.

Revenge and redemption.

They got the revenge Friday, whipping Argentina 101-81 at Wukesong Olympic Basketball Gymnasium. The Argentines beat Team USA en route to winning the 2004 Olympic gold at Athens.

A little gold-medal redemption is on the line Sunday, with Team USA taking on world champion Spain at 2:30 p.m. (a.m. EDT). Spain advanced by rallying past Lithuania 91-86.

“It’s going to be fun, and everybody knows that,” Tayshaun Prince, the Detroit Pistons and former University of Kentucky standout, said of Sunday’s finals. “Everybody was looking forward to this (Argentina) game because of losing to them in ’04. … All of their guys play with their hearts. That’s why we could never really break away like we wanted to. But we did enough to get the job done.”

Team USA defeated Spain 119-82 during round-robin play here.

“I think the key is the same that we did last time, really put pressure on their guards,” Prince said. “Obviously Pao (Gasol) is going to be tough inside. But I thought our ‘bigs’ did a great job last time.”

Prince played only 3:52 against Argentina, grabbing a rebound. But his anticipation of redemption keeps him focused.

In comparison to games during his collegiate and pro careers, Sunday’s contest “ranks up there because, one, you’re representing your country. And I think the reason why it really ranks up there is the fact that we lost in ’04, and this is the type of situation where we’re trying to bounce back.”

Carmelo Anthony led the win over Argentina with 21 points. Although he shot 3-for-14 from the field, Anthony sank all 13 of his free-throw chances.

The Argentines lost Manu Ginobili after only 6:21 because of an injury to his left ankle. He did not return, scoring only two points.

“He suffered the injury while running,” team doctor Diego Grippo said. “Maybe he stepped on someone’s foot, but it wasn’t jumping.”

LeBron James drained three three-pointers en route to scoring 15 for Team USA. Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul scored 12 each, Chris Bosh 11 and Dwight Howard 10. Bosh also cleared 10 rebounds, one more than Howard.

Argentina’s Luis Scola stepped up to total 28 points and 11 rebounds. He knocked down 13 of 21 floor shots and both of his free throws.

Carlos Delfino added 17 points and eight boards. Paolo Quinteros scored 12, Andres Nocioni 10.

An 18-0 first-quarter run gave the U.S. a 21-4 lead, and the lead increased to 21 points, 34-13, early in the second.

“The USA team combines technical ability, physicality and discipline, which they didn’t show in previous tournaments,” said Sergio Hernandez, the Argentine coach.

Argentina went on a 27-12 rally, going 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, to pull to within six, 46-40, late in the half.

“We put them on the line in the second quarter at the 8:10 mark,” James said. “Any time a team can go to the line and continue to make free throws, it allows their defense to set up. It takes away from our strength, which is running.

“We got some good looks. We didn’t knock them down, and then we fouled and put them on the free-throw line.”

But Team USA took care of business in the second half, regaining a 21-point edge at 76-55.

“Guys were really anxious to play this team,” Prince said. “I think you saw that by how we came out of the gate. And I think when Ginobili got hurt, we kind of let up a little bit. They made some shots, went into a zone, and we didn’t penetrate or do anything to get in the gaps.”

In the second half, though, Team USA pushed the ball up the floor and pounced.

Next up, gold-medal redemption?

“I know one thing for a fact,” Prince said, “is that we’re going to leave it all out on the line.”