Team USA are back on track in Tokyo! After their surprising defeat to France in their first game of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the US men’s basketball team immediately bounced back with a blowout win over Group A minnows Iran.
And in Group B, Germany kept Nigeria without a win in a competitive match, while the Aussies outlasted the plucky Italians in a tight affair.
Read on below as SBOTOP recaps all of the latest action from the Olympics men’s basketball tournament.
Lillard leads Team USA thrashing of Iran
The pressure was on Team USA to perform following their setback against France, and they delivered with a dominant 120-66 victory over Iran.
The Americans made two changes to their first five, with the Milwaukee Bucks’ Jrue Holiday and the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker both starting just a week removed from playing in the NBA Finals.
But it was Damian Lillard who would set the tone early for the US. The Portland Trail Blazers point guard made three quick 3-pointers then assisted a couple more baskets as the Americans built up an eight-point lead after six minutes. Kevin Durant then added to the Olympics 2020 highlights as his two threes pushed the lead up to 14.
The American assault continued in the second quarter with Zach LaVine, who started the first game against France, leading the way. Lillard returned later in the quarter and hit three more 3-pointers to extend the Americans’ lead to a commanding 60-30 at half-time.
The game was a mere formality at that point. The US were in complete control and they continued to add to their lead in the second half as they ran away convincing 54-point winners. Stars such as Lillard and Durant, who finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, were able to rest for most of the second half.
The Olympics 2020 odds will have the Americans as massive favourites to beat the Czech Republic in their final group game. Meanwhile, the Iranians will have another tough test against France.
Germany keep Nigeria winless
After falling to Italy in their first group game, Germany got back on track with a 99-92 win over Nigeria.
Johannes Voigtmann led five Germans in double figures with 19 points and seven rebounds. Moritz Wagner, who plays in the NBA for the Orlando Magic, added 17 points off the bench.
Jordan Nwora of the newly crowned NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks had an incredible performance with a game-high 33 points on 7-of-12 shooting on 3-pointers in a losing effort for Nigeria. Miye Oni of the Utah Jazz added 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.
It was a close game throughout, with both teams finishing tied at half-time and at the end of the third quarter.
But after being tied at 81, the Germans made a big 14-0 run in the fourth. The Nigerians had just two minutes left to overcome the deficit, but they unfortunately fell well short.
Germany will now face Australia in their third and final group game, while Nigeria will have their last chance to get a win against Italy. Both games will be played on Saturday, July 31.
Aussies outlast Italians in tight contest
Australia lead Group B with two wins out of two group games after outlasting Italy, 86-83, in a tight contest.
The Aussies had a well-balanced attack which saw five players – Jock Landale, Patty Mills, Nick Kay, Aron Baynes, and Joe Ingles – scoring between 14 and 18 points. Simone Fontecchio had a team-high 22 points and guard Nico Mannion had 21 points off the bench in a losing effort for Italy.
It was a very close game for the first three quarter, with neither team leading by more than six points. But the Aussies finally broke away and built an eight-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, with key 3-pointers from Joe Ingles and Jock Landale leading the charge.
Fontecchio fought back with six straight points, but Ingles made a crucial 3-pointer assisted by Landale, which stretched the lead back to seven points.
Mannion then made one last push as he scored the team’s last eight points in the last minute, but his efforts fell just short.
The Aussies are now in a great position to seal top spot in Group B with three wins out of three in their final group game against Germany.
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