US romps to men’s basketball gold, beats Serbia 96-66

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Kevin Durant scored 30 points, while DeMarcus Cousins added 13 points and 15 rebounds as the USA squad cruised to a 15th overall men’s basketball gold medal, every United States player scoring in the romp that decided the last gold medal in Rio.

2016 Rio Olympics – Basketball – Final – Men’s Gold Medal Game Serbia v USA – Carioca Arena 1 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 21/8/2016.

A far cry from the 91 points that Serbia scored against the U.S.in group play, in the gold medal final, the club could only muster 43 points after three quarters, leading to the inevitable 96×66 win.

Krzyzewski said he has coached his last US national team, which he said Monday would take some getting used to after settling in as head coach the past 10 years.

Kevin Durant scored 30 points in the final game with the national team for Mike Krzyzewski, who took the Americans back to the top and leaves with them there after becoming the first coach to win three Olympic gold medals.

With the victory Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson joined one of basketball’s most exclusive clubs, becoming just the eighth and ninth players to win Olympic and FIBA world championship gold and an NBA title. Though undefeated heading into the final, the US men’s team flirted with disaster at several points in the tournament, including razor-thin three point victories over France and its gold medal opponent Serbia in Group play. This rematch looked nothing like that meeting, but it did resemble the final of the 2014 Basketball World Cup, which the Americans won 129-92. “I’m excited we got the chance to do this and play with such great players, and I’m on cloud nine right now for sure”.

Anthony checked back into the rout in the final minutes so he could grab a seventh rebound, passing David Robinson for USA record with the 125th in his Olympic career.

The Americans haven’t lost since, winning 25 consecutive in the Olympics.

Cousins had 11 points and 12 rebounds in the first half, which ended with the Americans ahead 52-29 and playing like the flamboyant side most expected to see once the roster was named.

Krzyzewski said it didn’t matter how the Americans won, that there would be no questions as long as they did.

And there was no doubt they would Sunday once Durant heated up.

US women left Rio with 27 golds – by far the most among any team of female Olympians at these games – and 61 medals total.

When the f inal horn sounded, the US players shared long hugs with each other and then Krzyzewski.

They dropped three games in the group stage but had the look of a team that could challenge the Americans after almost knocking them off earlier in the tournament and overwhelming Australia in the semifinals.

They were down just 16-15 before Durant made a three-pointer for the final points of the first quarter, and before they knew it he had turned the game into a blowout. They passed the torch on to Sue, Dee and I, and now you know whatever happens next, whether Sue and Dee play in another one or not, for me it’s kind of like I’m passing the torch over to whoever that next generation is.

Kipchoge grabbed the lead in the marathon around the 21-mile mark and finished off his first Olympic victory in this event in a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 44 seconds.

US coach Geno Auriemma was impressed with how the leaders set examples – on and off the court – for the younger players to follow.

“I was trying too hard to sacrifice and make that extra pass, and I was taken away from my game”. “We said it was a learning experience and our guys did learn and we put it to good practice”.