By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Argentina got a 19-9 head start, but the last performance of Manu Ginobili with his beloved national team ended with USA getting the ticket to the semifinal and the duel with Spain.
With Kevin Durant scoring 18 points at half time and finishing the game with 27, USA got the 105-78 win and never felt any real pressure after the first five minutes of the game. At half time the score was 56-40, at the end of the third period the USA advantage was 26 points (87-61) and simply the London and Beijing gold medalists were too good for Argentina.
Pau George added 17 points for the winners and DeMarcus Cousins had 15. USA after the three tests against Australia, Serbia and France found the way the be effective on both sides of the court. They got a 54-42 rebounding advantage, better shooting percentages and solid defense. Facundo Campazzo scored 13 points for Argentina, all in the first half, but this game was all about the “golden generation”.
Ginobili (14 p.), Luis Scola (15 p., 10 r.), Andres Nocioni (12 p.) and Carlos Delfino shared the court for the last time in the closing minutes of the game. Manu was substituted with two minutes left in order to get a standings ovation and finally the circle of the team that won the silver medal back in the 2002 FIBA World Cup and the gold Olympic medal in Athens 2004 was completed.
