LONDON — Kevin Durant scored 17 of his 28 points during the Americans’ 42-point third quarter, turning a one point game into a blowout that sent the U.S. soaring into the quarterfinals with a 126-97 victory over Argentina on Monday night.
The NBA scoring champion matched the Argentines’ point total in the quarter, going 5 of 6 from three-point range. The Americans didn’t stop shooting and scoring until Carmelo Anthony made a three-pointer in the final second of the quarter while taking what he and the U.S. bench right behind him felt was a cheap shot from Argentina’s Facundo Campazzo, setting off an exchange of words and technical fouls.
The Americans (5-0) will play Australia (3-2) in a quarterfinal game Wednesday.
LeBron James added 18 points, getting the Americans’ first seven of the third quarter before Durant took over. Chris Paul finished with 17.
Two nights after surviving their first real test in a 99-94 victory over Lithuania, it seemed the Americans might be headed for another tight finish. Argentina shot 56 percent in the first half and the U.S. led just 60-59.
Minutes later, it was effectively over.
Durant’s three-pointer after James’ surge gave the U.S. 10 points in 2:10 of the second half, and he made back-to back three-pointers midway through the quarter to make it 85-68. He hit consecutive three-pointers again later in the quarter.
Manu Ginobili scored 16 points for Argentina (3-2), which would have won Group A via tiebreaker if it had blown out the U.S. Instead, it finished third and will face Brazil in the quarterfinals.
GYMNASTICS Douglas struggles
Gabby Douglas was nowhere near the podium this time. The all-around champion, who also helped the United States to team gold, finished last on uneven bars. Russia’s Aliya Mustafina rallied to the victory.
Mustafina, who injured her left knee in April 2011, gave Russia its first gold in women’s gymnastics in London. This completed her medal set following a silver in team competition and bronze in all around.
Arthur Zanetti finished first on still rings for Brazil’s first gymnastics medal, and Yang Hak-seon of South Korea added the gold on vault to his world title.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL U.S. men done
Americans Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal were knocked out of the men’s tournament by Latvia.
The Americans won the first set 21-19, then dropped two consecutive to Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins 21-18, 15-11. The other American men’s team, Beijing gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, already had been eliminated.
VOLLEYBALL Americans win
David McKienzie scored 17 points and the defending champion U.S. men’s team clinched a top tournament seed with a victory over winless Tunisia.
Sean Rooney added 12 points in the 25-15, 25-19, 25-19 victory, which set up a quarterfinal against Italy on Wednesday.
SHOOTING
Emmons gets bronze
Matt Emmons finally made his way to the podium in the 50-meter three-position rifle event at the Olympics.
The U.S. marksman held on to win the bronze medal at the London Games. Italy’s Niccolo Campriani set Olympic marks of 1,180 in qualifying and 1,278.5 for his overall score, easily topping silver medalist Kim Jonghyun of South Korea.
Sports, Pages 21 on 08/07/2012