Bryant Leads USA Over Argentina, 91-76

Bryant led the USA with 27 points.

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LAS VEGAS - In a battle of the unbeatens in the desert city of Las Vegas, Nev., the USA Men’s Senior National Team showered Argentina (6-1)with six 3-pointers from four different players to explode to a 15-point first-quarter lead and storm on to a 91-76 win in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The win assured the USA of the No. 1 seed in Saturday's 4:00 p.m. (All times are PDT) semifinal contest against No. 4 seed Puerto Rico (3-4).

Argentina, the No. 2 seed, will play No. 3 seed Brazil (4-3) in the other semifinal contest that tips off at 1:00 p.m.

The winners of the semifinals games will earn the Americas zone's two qualifying berths for the 2008 Olympics.

The USA, which defeated Puerto Rico 117-78 on Aug. 28 in second round play, suffered a stunning 92-73 upset in the opening game of the 2004 Olympics, but earned a hard fought 111-100 win over Puerto Rico in the opening game of last summer's FIBA World Championship.

That was more of an international game tonight, where you have to adjust," said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "I think the physicality, especially below the waist, is something we haven't experienced here, that was good for us. We were a little bit sloppy in transition. I think we could have had five to 10 more fast breaks, you have to credit Argentina for getting back and making their stands. Overall I thought our defense was good, and we were ready to play. We have so much respect for Argentina. I thought our guys competed the whole 40 minutes. We feel honored going in (to the semifinals) undefeated and playing Puerto Rico on Saturday afternoon."

Kobe Bryant started the USA off red hot, hitting a baseline jumper at 8:34, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers to bring the score to 8-4 in the USA's advantage at 7:43.

After turning the ball over, Argentina called a time out at 7:26, but Carmelo Anthony responded with his own 3-pointer at 7:15, sending a clear message that the USA would not be cooled.

Bryant went on to score 15 points in the period, and finished with 27 in the game, while Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups both connected from deep to join the 3-point party, and the U.S. lead was 28-13 after the first 10 minutes.

"We needed a fast start tonight, Anthony said. "In the back of our minds we knew this was one of the biggest games of the tournament. We had to come out and be aggressive. Argentina is a good team, we knew they weren't going to give up, but we really wanted this tonight."

Next, Argentina was forced to weather the U.S. attack on the inside, as 12 of the USA's 21 second-quarter points were scored in the paint.

After Bryant opened the quarter with two points from the free throw line, Anthony, assisted by Jason Kidd, powered his way to three consecutive dunks, including a monster jam down the middle over two Argentinians at 7:20.

Anthony sank a 3-pointer at 6:15, followed by another 3-pointer from LeBron James to bring the U.S. lead to 42-21 at 5:15.

Argentina's Martin Leiva and Guillermo Kammerichs tallied six points each in the period to prevent the U.S. lead from balloning beyond the 49-30 halftime score.

Luis Scola helped Argentina again nearly keep pace with the USA in the third period, scoring 12 points in the quarter to prevent the red, white and blue from improving its advantage by more than two points, however, they couldn't stop the highlight reel.

The third period, which closed with the USA up 21, at 73-52, featured a break-away slam at 9:15 from James, a fast-break dunk at 7:15 from Bryant and an up-and-under circus shot from Bryant at 5:32, to name just a few plays that rocked the crowd.

The dunk session carried into the first part of the fourth period, which opened with a reverse slam from James at 9:21 that was followed by a Dwight Howard baseline jam at 8:18 to make the score to 79-54.

As the U.S. starters headed to the bench midway through the fourth period, Argentina went on to outscore the USA 24-18 in the fourth to bring the score to the final 91-76 tally.

Anthony finished the contest with 18 points; James contributed 15 points, six rebounds and five assists; Billups tallied 10 points and three assists; Kidd dished seven assists; and Howard added nine points to his nine rebounds.

Argentina, led b 20 points from Luis Scola, outrebounded the USA 40-31, with the Americans collecting just four offensive boards.

"We're just worried about ourselves," James said. "We've got to continue to be better, and it's all about ourselves. We don't worry about what the other teams are doing against us. We continue to talk on the defensive end, we continue to run. We are getting better, and the chemistry is getting stronger in the family. The family part of our team is getting stronger."

Saturday's semifinal match between the USA and Puerto Rico will be televised live on ESPN Classic at 4:00 p.m. (EDT).

"First off, (Puerto Rico is ) a very confident basketball team, and they use their strengths well," Krzyzewski said of the USA next opponents. "Their strengths are their 3-point shooting, they can all hit 3-point shots. When they put Sanchez at the four-five, they spread you, and they cause you to have a lot of switching situations. Arroyo has always been one of the best guards internationally over the last six or seven years. Ayuso is as good a 3-point shooter as their could be in international play. We respect them. We played pretty good defense against them in the second quarter of our (last) game. Defense will be a key on Saturday afternoon."

In other action, Mexico (2-5) topped Venezuela (1-6) 101-91, Brazil (4-3) beat Uruguay (2-5) 96-62 and Puerto Rico (3-4) edged Canada (3-4) 72-66.

Today's games were the final contests for Canada, Uruguay, Mexico and Venezuela, which finished, in that order, in fifth through eighth places.

While eliminated from the tournament, Canada, Uruguay and Mexico have earned invited to the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament that is being held July 7-13 at a site to be determined.

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