Team USA Men's Basketball defeated Argentina, 126-97, in the final game of Group A play at the 2012 London Olympics on Monday. The U.S. finished group play with a 5-0 record.
The U.S. got all they wanted from Argentina in the first half. Argentina shot 55.9 percent from the field and made life difficult for the U.S. shooters inside the arc. Chris Paul was shooting well from three-point range and led the U.S. with 14 points in the first half. The U.S. did forced eight turnovers from Argentina which allowed the Americans to grab a one-point lead at the half, 60-59. The third quarter belonged to the U.S. and decided the game. LeBron James came out of the locker room motivated and got the U.S. off to a 13-5 start. He would run into foul trouble and sit while Kevin Durant went on to score 17 in the quarter. The U.S. outscored Argentina in the third quarter, 42-17. Both teams had already advanced to the quarterfinals before the game and rested their starters in the fourth quarter.
Durant led all scorers with 28 points in the game. James was second on the U.S. with 18 points. Four other players finished in double figures in scoring for Team USA. Manu Ginobili led Argentina with 16 points, all of which were scored in the first half. Luis Scola, who was leading the Olympics in scoring, was held to just 11 for the game.
The U.S. will play Australia (3-2) in the quarterfinals on Aug. 8. The U.S. could rematch Argentina in the semifinals.
To see the full bracket for the knock-out stages of the basketball competition, visit the NBC Olympics site.
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