Golden Day For Team USA
8/21/2016 4:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Team USA outscored Serbia, 33-14, in the second quarter, and went on to capture its third consecutive Olympic gold medal with a 96-66 triumph in Rio.
Kevin Durant led the way for Team USA with 30 points. He was 10-of-19 from the field, a shooting effort that included five 3-pointers. Demarcus Cousins had 13 points and 15 rebounds.
The victory represented the third straight gold-medal finish for Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant coach Jim Boeheim. Mike Hopkins, a Boeheim assistant at Syracuse, was also part of a third-consecutive gold medal as a court coach with the Americans. Team USA was 24-0 in the Olympic games with Krzyzewski and Boeheim coaching.
Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and former Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams rounded out the main coaching staff for Team USA.
"This team kept getting better and even those three games in pool play, we had not played that type of game against that type of level," said Krzyzewski. "We said it was a learning experience and our guys did learn. We put it to good practice. We kept getting better even though it didn't necessarily reflect in the differential in the score, but we were getting better and more knowledgeable. That's where I commend the leadership of our veterans for keeping us on course for that."
Former Syracuse All-American Carmelo Anthony earned his third gold medal and ended the Olympics as the top Olympic scorer and rebounder in U.S. history. Anthony also became the first American to compete in four Olympics. Anthony had seven points and seven rebounds in the gold-medal game.
"Nothing was ever guaranteed, but I never second guessed the work we put in to get to this point," Anthony said. "I believed so much in the guy that is alongside me (Durant), the coaching staff, the guys that were with us day in and day out, putting us in a position to win another gold medal. I never doubted that.
Serbia led 14-11 in the first quarter before Team USA rallied with an 8-1 run to finish the period and grab the advantage for good. The dominant stretch reached 14-1. Demarcus Cousins had seven points in the run and ultimately finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Team USA was up 52-29 at halftime and steadily increased its margin the rest of the way.
The Americans outrebounded Serbia, 53-34. The Team USA defense limited Serbia to 26-of-69 (.377) from the field, including 4-of-24 on 3-point attempts (.167).Â
Since the formation of USA Basketball's National Team program in 2006 by Jerry Colangelo, USA National Teams have compiled a spectacular 88-1 record and claimed top honors in six of seven FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions.
story contributions from USA Basketball staff
Kevin Durant led the way for Team USA with 30 points. He was 10-of-19 from the field, a shooting effort that included five 3-pointers. Demarcus Cousins had 13 points and 15 rebounds.
The victory represented the third straight gold-medal finish for Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant coach Jim Boeheim. Mike Hopkins, a Boeheim assistant at Syracuse, was also part of a third-consecutive gold medal as a court coach with the Americans. Team USA was 24-0 in the Olympic games with Krzyzewski and Boeheim coaching.
Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and former Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams rounded out the main coaching staff for Team USA.
"This team kept getting better and even those three games in pool play, we had not played that type of game against that type of level," said Krzyzewski. "We said it was a learning experience and our guys did learn. We put it to good practice. We kept getting better even though it didn't necessarily reflect in the differential in the score, but we were getting better and more knowledgeable. That's where I commend the leadership of our veterans for keeping us on course for that."
Former Syracuse All-American Carmelo Anthony earned his third gold medal and ended the Olympics as the top Olympic scorer and rebounder in U.S. history. Anthony also became the first American to compete in four Olympics. Anthony had seven points and seven rebounds in the gold-medal game.
"Nothing was ever guaranteed, but I never second guessed the work we put in to get to this point," Anthony said. "I believed so much in the guy that is alongside me (Durant), the coaching staff, the guys that were with us day in and day out, putting us in a position to win another gold medal. I never doubted that.
Serbia led 14-11 in the first quarter before Team USA rallied with an 8-1 run to finish the period and grab the advantage for good. The dominant stretch reached 14-1. Demarcus Cousins had seven points in the run and ultimately finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Team USA was up 52-29 at halftime and steadily increased its margin the rest of the way.
The Americans outrebounded Serbia, 53-34. The Team USA defense limited Serbia to 26-of-69 (.377) from the field, including 4-of-24 on 3-point attempts (.167).Â
Since the formation of USA Basketball's National Team program in 2006 by Jerry Colangelo, USA National Teams have compiled a spectacular 88-1 record and claimed top honors in six of seven FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions.
story contributions from USA Basketball staff
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