Basketball: USA seal top spot in Group A

Getty Images / Getty Images Europe

The United States wore down battling Argentina 126-97 to lock up top spot in Group A with a 5-0 record.

Argentina matched the Americans blow-for-blow in a pulsating first half, trailing 60-59 at half-time.
But the Americans outscored them 42-17 in an incredible third quarter in which the red-hot Kevin Durant hit five three-pointers from increasing distance.
Tensions flared down the stretch with both sides collecting technical fouls, but that was simply a measure of Argentina's frustration at their inability to stop the Americans, and the Americans' eagerness to let them know it.
United States coach Mike Krzyzewski believes a hard-fought victory over Argentina has put his team in ideal shape to go into the quarter-finals.
"We beat an outstanding team tonight [Monday]," Krzyzewski said. "Their point guard (Pablo Prigioni) was out and they were undermanned, we realised that, but you have some of the great players on this planet on their team - people like (Manu) Ginobili and (Luis) Scola.
"They're a championship level team and for us to have a game like this going into the medal round is good for us."
LeBron James scored seven quick points including a huge three to power them into a 67-62 lead before Kevin Durant hit the first of five quickfire three-pointers that carried the United States out of sight.
"We both of us took it upon ourselves to take over in the third quarter," James said. "I did it early, he finished it off, and we were able to build on that lead."
But it was not just about making shots as the American defence tightened up significantly.
"We gave up a lot of three-pointers in the first half," Chris Paul said. "At half-time coach came in and said, 'We know we can score. What are we going to do defensively?' We took that as a challenge, and came out being a lot more solid."
With the Americans tearing away, Carmelo Anthony hit a three to make it 102-76 at the end of the period, but then crumpled over in front of the bench, with the United States saying he had been hit in the groin.
Tensions began to flare, with several players clashing at mid-court leading to technical fouls against both teams.
"It's not a play that's called for in basketball," James said. "As his team-mates, we're going to protect him."
Patty Mills hit a three-pointer on the buzzer as Australia snatched a 82 - 80 victory to end Russia's unbeaten run at the London Olympics.
Andersen had 13 points and Matt Dellavedova 10 with six rebounds and seven assists.
Sasha Kaun had 18 points for Russia, with new Minnesota Timberwolves pairing Kirilenko and Alexey Shved adding 13 each.
Russia, 4-1, had already sealed top spot in the group while Australia knew they could not improve on fourth place, with both teams advancing to the quarter-finals.
Lithuania booked their quarter-final place in the London Olympics after a 76 - 63 victory over Tunisia in their final Group A game. 
The Eastern Europeans, who have reached the semi-finals of every Olympic Games since they gained independence in 1990, winning three bronze medals, risked elimination as Tunisia led most of the game and were up by double digits late in the third quarter.
A defeat would have left Lithuania waiting on Nigeria's result on France to discover their fate, but instead they took control with an outstanding fourth quarter display.
Jasikevicius and Darius Songaila led Lithuania with 13 points each while Seibutis, Jasaitis and Rimantas Kaukenas added 10 apiece.
Rzig had 17 points for Tunisia with Salah Mejri adding 16 and Ben Romdhane 12.
France quelled the threat of a second-half fightback from Nigeria to secure a 79 - 73 victory in Group A.
Boris Diaw made it into double figures with 10 points, but Parker was held to just three points and played a little over 21 minutes.
Obasohan finished with 18 points for Nigeria
Great Britain recorded their first Olympic victory in basketball since 1948 as they routed China 90-58 in their final Group B game in London.
In what coach Chris Finch said would be his last game in charge, he got one over his old BBL rival and current China coach Bob Donewald with a comfortable win.
Kieron Achara had an outstanding game for Britain with 16 points, making the most of extended playing time as Luol Deng slipped into early foul trouble and Pops Mensah-Bonsu sat with an injury.
Spain's medal hopes at the London Olympics suffered another blow as they surrendered a late lead to lose 88-82 to Brazil.
World number two and European champions Spain had led virtually the entire game, often by double digits, and were still up 73-67 with 5:43 left to go after Pau Gasol split a pair of free throws.
But then the game very quickly became the Leandro Barbosa show.
The NBA star hit a pair of free throws and then stunned Spain with back-to-back three-pointers that gave Brazil a 75-73 advantage.
Pau Gasol's lay-up levelled but Brazil kept coming with Barbosa hitting two more free throws and Larry Taylor sinking a jump-shot.
Pau Gasol went to the line again but could only split his throws.
When Barbosa hit another jump-shot the lead was 82-76 with two minutes to go.
Spain could not stop the bleeding, and Tiago Splitter gave them an 88-79 lead with five seconds left to cap it.
Sergio Llull hit a three-pointer on the buzzer for Spain, but it will be of little consolation to a team with high expectations but struggling to meet up to their demanding standards so far.
The result means Brazil take the second seed in Group B, with Spain having to settle for third after also suffering defeat against Russia.
It is Spain's second loss in a row, and the second game where a fourth-quarter collapse has brought about their downfall after they went from nine points up with four and a half minutes to go to lose 77-74 against Russia.
But while the Russia defeat ended Spain's hopes of topping the group, this loss could have a useful side effect as it would keep Spain away from the top seed in Group A - expected to be the Americans - until the final.
The suggestion the team might want to lose had already been raised by Spanish media before the contest tipped off.
But Toronto Raptors guard Jose Calderon dismissed the idea after the game.
"This is not our team," he said.
"This is not how we play. This is not the way we've been together for I don't know how many years. We always play to win. Always.
"There have been some situations before when some teams have tried to avoid us and we don't like that. We're in the Olympics and you have to try to win every game; no matter who you play against. If you want a medal, you have to beat anybody."
Felipe Reyes said the media speculation had angered the players.
"Of course it bothered us," he said.
"We're professional players and we always want to win. The press were talking about that and it affected us. Now we have to forget this and focus on what comes next."
Sergio Llull hit a late three for Spain, but it was of little consolation and Pau Gasol admitted the Spanish were not playing well enough to deserve a medal.
"I am worried because we have not found our best game yet," he said.
"I am concerned because this is not the first or second game and we have already played a lot of matches and we have not played to the best of our ability."
The Los Angeles Lakers centre blamed mental mistakes for Spain's problems.
"It's been the same thing in all our games," he said. "We've got stretches where we dominate and stretches where we go nowhere because of a lack of concentration and effort. We need to play the 40 minutes with the same intensity and activity. We can't win on talent alone."