The NBC publicity machine kept promoting the Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinals between Team USA and Spain in Japan s a game between the two best teams in the world.
And for a while, it actually looked like they might be right.
Spain, which had won two sliver medals and a bronze in the last three Olympic competitions and captured the gold in the 2019 World Championships, pushed the United States, building an 40-29 lead at one point in the first half and hung close for three quarters late Monday night in Japan before the Americans dropped the hammer, outscoring the experienced, but older Spanish team, 95-81, to advance to a quarterfinal matchup against Australia the Aussies, who beat the U.S. in an exhibition game in Vegas, advanced with a blowout win of Argentina. .
“We’ve got to finish it,” America’s biggest star Kevin Durant said. “We’re supposed to be here. For us, it’s about getting the gold.”
Spain, Team USA’s biggest rival for over a decade, is gone. And key Spanish stars 7-1, 41-year old Pau and 6-10, 36 year old Marc Gasol are likely gone with them. It is likely the end of an era for a team with five key players who are 30 or older
Durant put the Spanish to bed with 29 points to offset a brilliant individual performance by Spain’s Ricky Rubio, a veteran pass first point guard who is averaging 11 points for his career and was just been traded from Cleveland to the Minnesota T-Wolves. Rubio scored 14 of his team’s first 17 points and finished with a world class 38 points.
But he couldn’t get the help he needed down the stretch. Team USA’s shot making was just too much for Spain to handle in the second half. Forward Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, who scored 50 points four times last season, could become America’s next great go to player once Durant leaves, woke up to finish with 13 points and Jrue Holiday, Dame Lillard and Zach LaVine all scored in double figures.
Durant was a difference maker in big games again. He is playing and succeeding at the highest level in his third Olympics. While many NBA stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry. took a pass this summer after completing two compact Covid seasons in the space of 12 months, Durant simply chose to put on the uniform.
Durant didn’t have to be here. He could have taken taken a pass too. He was coming off an Achilles injury in the 2019 finals that kept him out of the entire 2020 season and missed 37 of 72 games this year during to injuries and Covid-related issues. But in June, he was back, scoring 48 points and playing all 53 minutes in a Game 7 overtime loss to eventual NBA champion Milwaukee in the conference finals.
Durant, the all-time leading scorer in Olympics men’s basketball, stepped up big time in the second half after Spain had bullied Team USA in the paint, outrebounding them, 29-18, blocked six shots against a smaller U.S. team, He scored 13 points and banged home three triples in the third quarter and finished 10 for 17 for the game, taking over the game. with his versatile 6-10 size and athleticism and unstoppable offensive skills. Team USA, which made just 4 of 17 three point attempts in the first half, came to life from beyond the arc in the second half, making 9 of 15 when they broke free from a 43-43 tie at half.
“We’re in a good spot right now,” Durant said. “Guys are starting to understand their roles and just getting comfortable within the team. In this setting, it’s always hard to get your footing as an individual player. You don’t want to step on any toes.”
Team USA greatest strength in the last three games has been its ability to suffocate teams defensively when the threes start falling. “You have to be who you are,” U.S. national team coach Greg Popovich said. “The three point shot is important in basketball in all levels these days; its not a secret.”
Durant has been tough on Spain in Olympic competition. He scored 30 on them in the 2012 gold medal game, then had 14 points and eight rebounds in the 2016 semi-finals at Rio
Despite Durant’s brilliance, the Americans are not out of the woods yet. This not the biggest team to represent the United States. Draymond Green and Bam Adebayo are not your traditional international centers. Spain ultimately outrebounded the USA, 42-32. Going forward, if Team USA can get by Australia, they will have to deal with either France, with 7-1 NBA All Star Rudy Golert, or Solvenia with Luka Doncic, a 22-year old wunderkind who gets to the rim at will and has already had a 48-point game in this tournament. .
