LONDON — The U.S. men’s basketball team had scored 100 points by the middle of the third quarter. It was that kind of night for the Americans.
They broke a few records, shattered others. They hardly missed.
Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points, making 10 of 12 three pointers, and the Americans rewrote the Olympic record book with a strong shooting performance and 156-73 victory over Nigeria on Thursday night.
Anthony set the U.S. Olympic mark for points in a game - in less than three quarters. The U.S. also set the Olympic record for points in a game and points in a half (78). The Americans bettered the U.S. records as well for three-pointers (26), field goals (59) and field-goal percentage (71).
They eclipsed the 100-point mark with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
And when Andre Iguodala hit a three-pointer with 4:37 left, the Americans had surpassed the previous Olympic record of 138 points set by Brazil against Egypt in 1988. When the record was announced to the crowd, all the players seated on the U.S. bench got up and slapped hands with Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff.
“When we get hot, it’s a big problem,” Kobe Bryant said. “So you have all these guys on one team and then all get hot on the same night, it’s tough.”
Bryant scored 16 points - 14 in the first quarter - for the Americans, who scored 49 points in the first and didn’t let up after scoring 78 in the first 20 minutes.
Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points and Kevin Durant had 14 for the U.S., which will play Lithuania on Saturday.
Ike Diogu scored 27 to lead Nigeria (1-2).
TENNIS Federer advances
Roger Federer is still rolling in his pursuit of his first Olympic singles medal.
Federer beat American John Isner 6-4, 7-6 (5) and will play No. 8-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinals.
Serena Williams, another reigning Wimbledon champion who is seeking her first Olympic singles medal, advanced by beating former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-0, 6-3. Williams’ opponent in the semifinals today will be top-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who beat Angelique Kerber 6-4, 7-5.
ROWING Americans defend title
The United States defended its title in the women’s eight, maintaining its six-year dominance of the high-profile event.
The Americans won in a time of 6 minutes, 10.59 seconds. Canada finished a half-length behind in second and the Netherlands took the bronze.
The U.S. hasn’t lost a competitive race in the eight since winning the world title in 2006.
New Zealand picked up its first gold of the Games when Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan won the double sculls final at Dorney Lake. Italy and Slovenia grabbed the next two spots on the podium.
South Africa captured its first Olympic rowing gold when its closing charge was enough to take the lightweight men’s four. Britain edged Denmark for silver.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL Americans win
All four American teams - two in the men’s tournament and two in the women’s - finished the round-robin atop their pools, with defending gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser beating the Czech Republic in the finale.
Defending world champions Emanuel and Alison of Brazil struggled through an extended first set to beat Italy and win their group. The Brazilians beat Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo 26-24, 21-18.
Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross finished 3-0 with a 21-19, 19-21, 19-17 victory over Spain. Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor finished their pool play with a No. 1 seed Wednesday, as did Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal.
VOLLEYBALL U.S. beats Brazil
Captain Clay Stanley scored 19 points and the U.S. men’s team defeated Brazil 3-1 in a preliminary-round rematch of the Beijing final.
The 23-25, 27-25, 25-19, 25-17 victory extends the United States’ Olympic winning streak to 11 matches.
Leandro Vissotto Neves had 15 points for Brazil.
BOXING Two left for U.S.
U.S. boxers are dropping out of the Olympic tournament at a rapid rate.
The American skid reached seven consecutive bouts with narrow defeats for lightweight Jose Ramirez and middleweight Terrell Gausha. Only welterweight Errol Spence and flyweight Rau’shee Warren - who hasn’t fought yet - are still alive.
Ramirez started slowly and never caught up in a 15-11 loss to Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Gaibnazarov, while Gausha was locked in a tight match with Beijing bronze medalist Vijender Singh of India before dropping a 16-15 decision.
Sports, Pages 22 on 08/03/2012