By Steve Keating
PARIS (Reuters) -The United States turned on the style as they rolled past Brazil 122-87 on Tuesday and into the Paris Olympics men’s basketball semi-finals.
The routine victory keeps the U.S. on track for a fifth consecutive gold medal and sets up an intriguing final four meeting with Serbia, who advanced with an overtime win over Australia.
The contest will be a rematch of the 2016 Rio Games gold medal final and will pit the United States’ LeBron James, a four-time NBA most valuable player, against the reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
France will face Germany in Thursday’s other semi-final.
“We understand we’re seizing opportunity,” said James. “The only game that’s guaranteed is the next one now. That’s the only thing we focus on and focus on Serbia.
“Every game is a test. So you need to lock in on film sessions tomorrow, lock in during the day on Thursday, and then come out and be ready to go,” added James, who contributed 12 points on Tuesday.
“The main goal is, and the only main goal is, for us to win gold. That’s all I care about.”
While Brazil never looked a threat to make the quarter-final a contest neither did the U.S. appear to hit top gear, or even get out of cruise control.
The mighty Americans served up just enough razzle dazzle to keep the capacity crowd buzzing in a display that was as much entertainment as sport.
There was none of the electricity that filled the Bercy Arena hours earlier, when France and Canada engaged in an entertaining up-tempo, physical contest that had the building rocking from tip-off to buzzer.
After constructing a 33-21 first quarter lead followed by a sharp 7-0 run to start the second, the U.S. took their foot off the gas but still hit the break up 63-36.
With the outcome no longer in doubt, the U.S. coasted to the finish with every player getting on the scoresheet led by Devin Booker with 18 and Anthony Edwards chipping in with 17.
Kevin Durant had 11 points to become the all-time leading U.S. Olympic scorer man or woman.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Paris; Additional reporting by Angie Medina and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Toby Davis and Bill Berkrot)
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