|
LAS VEGAS, Nevada: LeBron James put on another
shooting clinic in a 118-81 rout of Argentina as the United States
locked up a tournament gold medal to go with an Olympic berth at the
FIBA Americas Championship on Sunday.
James, who had a perfect night
against Uruguay earlier in the tournament by hitting all 11 of his
field goals, led the heavily-favored Americans with four three
pointers in the third quarter and capped his night with a game-high
31 points.
“LeBron’s performance was one
of the best in an international game that a US player has ever
had,” American coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard
also looked unstoppable, springboarding the US to a 25-point lead at
the half in front of a crowd of about 9,000 at the Thomas and Mack
Center arena. Anthony finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds and
Howard had 20 points and 5 rebounds.
“This Team USA is one of the
best I have ever seen,” Argentina head coach Sergio Hernandez
said. “Nobody will ever forget the first Dream Team with Michael
Jordan and Magic Johnson, but I like this USA team very much with
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. They really know how to play
together.”
Argentina reached the finals
despite missing four of its NBA stars, guard Manu Ginobili (San
Antonio Spurs), forward Andres Nocioni (Chicago Bulls), center
Fabrico Oberto (San Antonio) and forward Walter Hermann (Charlotte
Bobcats).
Elias Ayuso scored 39 points and
Carlos Arroyo had 30 and 10 assists as Puerto Rico beat Brazil,
111-107, for the bronze medal.
The USA and defending Olympic
champion Argentina join China (host country), Spain (world
champion), Iran (Asia), Australia (Oceania) and Angola (Africa) in
the Beijing Summer Games.
Argentina will be making its
fifth appearance in the Olympics with the gold in Athens being their
lone medal.
Both Puerto Rico and Brazil
failed in their bids but they will get one more chance in the 2008
FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament next July in which three more
countries will punch their tickets to China.
--AFP
|
