Aussie hopes dashed by Bryant

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Kobe Bryant exploded into life in the second half as the United States eased into the semi-finals of the London Olympics 119-86.

Australia fought hard to keep the Americans in check, but had no answer once Bryant found his stroke.
The Los Angeles Lakers man had done little to live up to his superstar status in London prior to this game and reached half-time 0-for-four from the field and with as many fouls committed - 14 - as field goals made in the entire tournament.
But that changed in a big way in the second half as he made six-of-nine three-point attempts to fire a United States surge that killed off the Boomers.
Lithuania have failed to reach the semi-finals of an Olympic basketball tournament for the first time since gaining independence in 1990 after a second-half rally fell short against Russia.
Lithuania, three-times bronze medallists, scored 18 points in the final five minutes of the third quarter to go from 46-32 down to 54-50 going into the final period.
When Rimantas Kaukenas hit a three-pointer to open the fourth period, the gap was just one.
But Russia dug deep to pull out the 83-74 win.
French tempers flared as Spain emerged from a dogfight 66-59 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Olympic basketball tournament.
The fourth quarter was downright ugly as both defences turned it up and French frustration boiled over when Spain, who beat France in a EuroBasket final that left bad blood last year, began to edge away.
The Spanish outscored the French 15-6 in the period, and Ronny Turiaf and Nicolas Batum both lost their cool.
Turiaf blindsided a speeding Rudy Fernandez to knock him to the floor, and Batum knocked Juan Carlos Navarro to the ground with a violent action when reaching for the ball.
But coach Vincent Collet refused to condemn the actions of his players after the game, and instead turned on a reporter who asked.
"Basketball is a physical game," he said. "We are not going to take any lessons from a Spanish journalist.
"Your guys don't make any gifts to us, and we don't make any gifts to you.
"I would like to ask you, what did you think about Rudy Fernandez's actions against Tony Parker in the European final last year?
"I didn't commit the fouls. I didn't ask them to commit the fouls. I cannot answer for my players."
Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said both Fernandez and Navarro had received treatment after the game and would be doubtful for the semi-finals.
"They are bad right now," he said. "They will go through treatment for the rest of day. Right now it is difficult to say that somehow they will be able to play."
Batum later apologised for his actions on Twitter.
"Do not remember my stupid gesture at the end, but the collective performance during the tournament of a team proud to fight for their country," the Portland Trail Blazers forward wrote.
"I'm sorry I've shown an image like that of basketball and of France. The frustration and rage overtook me. I have no excuse."
Argentina held off a late rally to beat South American rivals Brazil 82-77  and make it to the semi-finals of an Olympic Games for the third straight time.
In a re-match of the FIBA Americas Championship final won by Argentina last year, they looked comfortable when Manu Ginobili's three-pointer gave them an 70-59 lead with seven minutes left to play.
But Brazil had other ideas. The outstanding Marcelinho Huertas added two points from the free-throw line to start a 9-0 charge that got it to 70-68 on Alex Garcia's lay-up.
Pablo Prigioni padded the lead for Argentina and Nene Hilario came up empty with a pull-up jumper before Andres Nocioni gave Argentina a 74-68 edge.
Prigioni missed a three and Carlos Delfino a short jumper for Argentina
Leandro Barbosa took advantage to slice the lead back to 74-71 with less than two minutes to go.
Prigioni missed another three, but Marcelinho came up empty when given the chance to tie with another three.
From there, Argentina closed it out from the free throw line with Ginobili, Luis Scola, Delfino and Prigioni all perfect from the line to make it 82-71.
Leandro had back-to-back three-pointers late on to slice the margin, but time ran out on another rally.
Scola led Argentina with 17 points while Ginobili and Delfino had 16 each, Ginobili also grabbing eight rebounds.
Andres Nocioni scored 12 and Jonas Gutierrez 11 in a balanced offensive showing.
Brazil relied heavily on Marcelinho and Barbosa, who had 22 points each.
The Argentinians, winners of bronze in 2008, feature five veterans of the team that won gold at the 2004 Olympics, led by the outstanding Ginobili.
"This is unbelievable," the San Antonio Spurs star said. "For a team with an average age of 32 years it's very valuable to make it to the Olympic semi-finals.
"Beating Brazil is always special and this time it is even better because now we have two chances to fight for a medal."
Scola was just happy to get one over the old rivals.
"It's been recurrent that we play Brazil in knockout stages in important tournaments," he said. "Today it was our time to win and now we are going to fight for our right to get to the final."
Brazil coach Ruben Magnano was the man who led Argentina to that gold medal in Athens and Delfino admitted he felt a little bad about knocking out his former coach.
"He's a special coach, like nobody else," Delfino said. "He created this team, this is the Magnano team. I feel sorry for him because he is a winner, he is a teacher but he didn't have the chance to win and it's good for us."