Team USA advances to semifinals

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By Steve Wojcik
CSNChicago.com

If you take a look at the score, this looks like nothing more than another USA blowout, but the final score doesn't truly tell the story of Team USA's 119-86 victory over Australia in the men's quarterfinal Wednesday night.

Australia was competitive for much of the game, even trimming their deficit to three early in the third quarter, behind an 11-0 run to begin the period. But Australia had no answer for Lebron James and Kobe Bryant in the second half, when Team USA started to pull away.

James posted a triple-double with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, but it was really Bryant who stole the show, hitting six 3-pointers in the second half and finishing the game with 20 points.

Australia was led by strong performances from San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills and forward Joe Ingles, who plays professionally for Regal FC Barcelona. Mills led all scorers with 26 points and Ingles added 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, while playing the entire 40 minutes.

Team USA improved their record to 6-0 in London and will join Argentina, Russia and Spain in the semifinals.

To get to the gold medal game, Team USA will have to get past Argentina Friday in a rematch of the 2004 Athens Olympics semifinal - a game that Argentina won. Team USA has not lost since.

For complete coverage of the Olympics, visit NBCOlympics.com.

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