The United States Men's National Team participating in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games faced off against Australia Wednesday Night in a game that was very competitive. The game came down to who wanted to win the game the most. The US Men's National Team came out on top in that grueling match up. It was game to remember internationally. Both teams played down to the last second in the fourth quarter.
Jimmy Butler Forward during the United States Men's National Team vs Australia Wednesday Night shooting the ball.
USA and Australia were deadlocked up in the first quarter in the game with the score being 29-29. Going into the second quarter, Australia started the quarter strong taking an eight point lead early on and finished first half with a five point lead with the score being 54-49. USA started the second half catching fire in the opening of the third quarter scoring nine straight points taking the lead within two minutes of the quarter and were finally able to maintain the lead going into the fourth quarter up by three with the score being 70-67.
Australia started off the final quarter scoring five straight points taking back the lead with the score being 72-70. Carmelo Anthony tied the game up 72-72 making a layup. Both teams were scoring back and forth. Team USA took the lead 5 minutes into the quarter leading by four. Australia was on there tail in the whole game until USA started knocking down some clutch shots which were coming from there two leading scorers, Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving. USA was able to stretch the lead to 10 and win the game. Score was 98-88.
Carmelo Anthony finished the game with 31 points and Kyrie Irving finished the game with 19 points. Carmelo Anthony became the All-Time leading scorer for Team USA playing in the Summer Olympics passing LeBron James and this is his second highest scoring performance in the preliminary round of the Olympics. Back in 2012 in the preliminary round against Nigeria, he scored 37 points in only 14 minutes of play. That scoring performance was highest of any player who have ever played for the USA Men's National Team. His performance Wednesday Night helped his national team survive against Australia.
The United States Men's National Team in Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
Team USA met there match Wednesday Night and haven't played a team that competitive since 2004. The 2004 United States Men's National Team in the Olympics met there match against Argentina. The USA Team that year featured a young Carmelo Anthony but he wasn't in his prime yet. The team that year was a team that was thrown together at the last minute because 9 of the 12 players who were originally suppose to play in the 2004 game decided to opt out. When USA played Argentina in 2004 in the Athens Olympic Games they were not prepared for the talent, and were not as organized as there opponents. It was a close game all the way but Argentina held the lead the whole game and secured the win sending USA to play for the Bronze Medal games. It wasn't the first time the US Men Team lost to Argentina. Matter of fact, two years earlier in the 2002 FIBA World Championship Games, Argentina beat the US Men's National Team 87-80.
The USA Team this year was prepared for the type of talent they faced this year, and were more organized compared to 2004 game against Argentina. For the preliminary round USA played, they better come to play in the future rounds. They could see a team like Australia and Argentina or they could play them both. Those are the top two teams who could keep them from bringing home a Gold Medal this year. When a team meet their challenge, it's up to the team to rise to the challenge and win. That's what the US Men's National Basketball Team has to do to bring home another Gold Medal.
