USA defeats Russia 89-79 to advance to semifinals of 2010 FIBA World Championships

Team USA defeated Russia 89-79 Thursday at the Sinan Erdem Dome to advance to Saturday's semifinals of the FIBA World Championship. The Americans will play the winner of a later game between Argentina and Lithuania.

Forward Kevin Durant led Team USA, which trailed by five points in the second quarter, with 33 points. After hitting a 3-pointer for a 79-61 lead with just over eight minutes left, Durant gave the crowd a salute.

The game was played 38 years to the day of the Soviet Union's stunning and controversial 51-50 win over the Americans in the 1972 Olympics. The winners scored on a length-of-the-court pass for a layup at the buzzer on their third allowed try.

Russia coach David Blatt, a U.S. native, said early this week the Americans were not cheated. Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski later said Blatt, who has dual American-Israeli citizenship, said that because "he's Russian.''

But that was a minor distraction. The Americans were far more worried about what would occur on the court.

The Russians surprised Team USA early, moving into a 25-25 tie after the first quarter as backup center Timofey Mozgov, who recently signed with the New York Knicks, had nine of his 13 points. Russia then outscored the Americans 10-5 to start the second quarter, taking a 35-30 lead.

But Team USA then took over. It went on a 12-0 run and soon took a 44-39 halftime lead. The lead went to a safe 70-56 at the end of the third quarter.

Guard Chauncey Billups added 15 points for the Americans and guard Russell Westbrook came off the bench to score 12. Center Lamar Odom had a team-high 12 rebounds.

Guard Sergey Bykov led the Russians with 17 points. Forward Andrey Vorontsevich added 14.

The Americans are two wins away from their first Worlds gold medal since 1994. The championship game is Sunday.

Source:
http://www.rnhalawi.com/2010/09/usa-defeats-russia-89-79-to-advance-to.html

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