United States Proves Dominant Again, Blows out Australia 116-85

After trash talk from both teams before and during the pivotal matchup that would leave one team watching and one team playing, their is now only one team that can back that talk up.

Australia hung around for most of the first half, until the United States opened the  3rd quarter with a 14-point run and eventually won the game 116-85.

Kobe Bryant led scorers with 25 points on 10 of 16 shooting, along with four three-pointers.

The first half was one of the U.S.'s most competitive game of the Beijing Olympics, as the score at the end of the first quarter was 25-24 with Australia annoyingly hanging around.

Even with the United States scoring barrage through most of the second quarter, the boomers kept up and kept the game within single digits until one shot that started the runaway.

Nearing the end of the half, the U.S, up 52-43 and having possession, Derron Williams threw up a shot at the buzzer and drained it and gave the U.S. their first double digit lead of the game. Williams finished with 10 points and the shot he made at the end of the first half was his only three-pointer for the game.

Going into the second half, the United States knew they couldn't let Australia stay within range of taking a lead, much like the exhibition game where Australia kept the game within single digits throughout before falling 86-75. A series of threes from LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and deep threes from Kobe Bryant set the U.S. on a 14-0 run to start the half that ended any chance of a tremendous upset.

LeBron James ended up with 16 points and 10 rebounds on seven of 12 shooting. Carmelo Anthony finished with 15 points.

Australian and NBA standout Andrew Bogut left the game midway through the 3rd quarter after what seemed like he aggravated an ankle injury that caused him to sit out games before, he finished with four points on two of five shooting. 5'11" point guard out of St. Mary's University Patrick Mills led the Aussies in scoring with 20 points. Mills, who led Australia in the game against the American's before, did it again as he made a number of shots and captivating lay ups.

The United States fared poorly from the free throw stripe, shooting 18 of 31, including James and Bryant each hitting one of four.

Despite bad free throw shooting, it was three pointers and offensive rebounds that set the tone and eventually led to the U.S. win. The United States outrebounded Australia 58-27, including an 18-8 offensive rebounding advantage.

The U.S. also hit 12 three-pointers, compared to Australia's 10.

With the win, the United States are now assured a chance at a medal, but after another convincing performance, it is just about certain that nobody is going to beat this team of all-stars. The U.S. will face the winner of Argentina-Greece.