Men’s national team routs Brazil to advance to semifinals

With the other three quarterfinals games already complete, Team USA became the final answer to a four-piece puzzle that makes up the semifinals.

This year’s men’s national team beat Brazil, 122-87, Tuesday, Aug. 6 from the Bercy Arena in Paris. Another win means the undefeated summer for the red, white and blue continues.

In the semifinals, the US will once again face off against the Nikola Jokic-led Serbian team. That contest is slated for Thursday, Aug. 8 with tip-off scheduled for 12 p.m.

In group play, Team USA defeated Serbia by 26 points. The other matchup on the top half of the bracket is a group stage rematch as well between France and Germany.

Brazil led for just 38 seconds in the eventual blowout win for the perennial Olympic powerhouse. The Americans jumped out to a first quarter lead of 16 points as all scorers scored within the first 13 points for the team.

For a moment in the second quarter, the Brazilians had cut the once 19-point deficit to eight points. That would be short-lived as it was countered and the lead was not only pushed back to double-digits but a lofty 27 points before halftime mainly behind a 15-0 run to close the second.

Before the final buzzer, the US would lead by as many as 35.

That first half ended with an out-of-bounds alley oop pass from Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James to Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.

James racked up five of his nine assists in the first quarter, netting the team an early advantage through team play. He’d close the night with 12 points and nine assists.

About midway through the third quarter, he would take an elbow near the left eye on the defensive end and would briefly leave the floor to have it tended to.

Fellow NBA championship winning forward Kevin Durant passed USA Basketball legend Lisa Leslie for most points in the country’s history. The historic feat would come as part of an 11-point night for the former league MVP.

James and Durant were two of six players to score in double-figures for Team USA including being led by 18 points from starting guard Devin Booker.

Center Joel Embiid chipped in with 14 points on 5-of-6 from the field and seven rebounds from his starting role.

After a late surge in regulation, guard Anthony Edwards added 17 points off-the-bench.

Backup center Anthony Davis was the final American in double-digits with 13 points on a night where he also picked up a highlight reel poster. Off a miss, he put back the failed attempt with a lone right hand on the way up while completing the flush over a leaping Gui Santos of Brazil.