After catching up: US basketball players back in the final

Superstar Kevin Durant's team beat Australia 97:78 (42:45) in Saitama on Thursday and easily made up a deficit of 15 points in the semifinals. Durant from the Brooklyn Nets was the winner's outstanding player with 23 points. The 32-year-old was already part of the Olympic victories in 2012 and 2016.

The tournament in Japan hasn't necessarily gone according to plan for the NBA star ensemble. Coach Gregg Popovich's team lost at the start. The defeat in the group phase against France was the first at the Olympic Games since 2004; in Athens, the US professionals failed in the semifinals against eventual Olympic champions Argentina.

Luka Doncic is out. © APA/afp / ARIS MESSINIS

On Saturday in the Saitama Super Arena it will be the US team's 16th Olympic victory against France, who came third in the World Cup. The French dramatically beat European champions Slovenia 90:89 in the second semi-final. Even superstar Luka Doncic, who lost for the first time in the national jersey, could not prevent the elimination with the third triple-double in Olympic history (16 points, 10 rebounds, 18 assists).

The previously unbeaten Australians had caused Durant and Co. some problems at the beginning on the way there. After a strong first quarter (24:18), they further extended their lead (41:26). Only then did the Americans turn up the heat and not give the Boomers the slightest chance. Before the final quarter, the score was 74:55 for the USA after a gala offensive performance. The Australians can still win their first basketball medal in the game for third place.

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After catching up: US basketball players back in the final

The US basketball players are in the final in Tokyo and can win Olympic gold for the fourth time in a row.

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