By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Australia went through to the Olympic Games semifinals by defeating Argentina, 97-59, on Tuesday.
Patty Mills fired a game-high 18 points after averaging 21.7 points per game in the preliminary round. Matisse Thybulle added 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Jock Landale paired his 12 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Joe Ingles dished out seven of his side’s 33 team assists. The Utah Jazz forward threw in 11 points as well. Nick Kay put up a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
The Boomers missing injured Aron Baynes for the rest of the tournament dug themselves out of an early eight-point hole. They fully controlled the second half and actually blew out the opponents in the fourth quarter.
Up next, the semifinal fixture against the USA. France and Slovenia will also face each other on Thursday at the Saitama Super Arena. Winners and losers will respectively move to Saturday’s gold and bronze medal affairs.
On the opposite end, Argentina was eliminated. Gabriel Deck posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in the losing effort. Nico Laprovíttola finished his Tokyo run packing a team-high 16 points.
Luis Scola received an extensive standing ovation from players and coaches of both teams after subbing out, potentially for the last time. He registered seven points in his final Olympic appearance.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL