U.S. Olympic Basketball Team Beats a Gritty Australian Team

By Francisco Romero

In a battle of two unbeaten teams, the United States Olympic Basketball team was able to escape with a 98-88 victory against an Australian squad that was focused and never quit.

The U.S. was never able to have a comfortable lead, with less than four minutes to go, the U.S. had only a 5-point lead.

At the end a 13-8 run by the Americans sealed the game.

The United States were led by Carmelo Anthony who became the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men’s Olympic history with 293 points; he led the USA with 31 points, including 9-of-15 shooting from 3-point, and eight rebounds.

“We beat a heck-of-a team.” Said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “Australia has probably played the best of anybody in the Olympics. They played three really tough opponents, us being the third one. They just play lights-out basketball. They play so well together as one, and they’ve been together. For a lot of times on the court tonight, they had four guys who started against us in London.”

Anthony passes David Robinson (270 points) and LeBron James (273 points) as the all time leading scorer for the U.S. Men’s Olympic team.

“My teammates were making sure that I was aware of the situation.  Tonight was just one of those nights, I just wanted to let the game come to me, take the shots that was given to me, take the open shots kind of just play basketball and at the end of the day, I was in my zone.  I was playing basketball.  My teammates found me when I was open.”

Australia led at the half 54-49 and again they had a lead in the 4^th quarter.

Patty Mills finished the game with 30 points on 11-22 shooting; and Matthew Dellavedova added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, Andrew Bogut finished the game with 15 points and three blocks.

“We’re disappointed, we had every opportunity,” said Bogut after the game.