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US routs Australia 97-78, to play for more basketball gold

Tokyo Olympics Basketball
Tokyo Olympics Basketball
Posted at 11:32 PM, Aug 04, 2021
and last updated 2021-08-05 02:32:10-04

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Kevin Durant and the Americans still have their grip on gold and it’s going to take more than a few bad minutes for anyone to take it away from them.

Durant scored 23 points, Devin Booker had 20 and the U.S. blew past and eventually blew away Australia 97-78 on Thursday in the Olympic men’s basketball semifinals after falling into a 15-point hole.

With their gold-medal streak looking in jeopardy midway through the second quarter, the Americans overwhelmed the Australians with a 48-14 stretch that gave them a 74-55 lead after three periods.

They will play Slovenia or France for gold.