Olympic Basketball 2016: Scores, Highlights and Reaction for Monday's Results
The men's and women's basketball tournaments continued Monday at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with both United States teams in action.
Below, we'll break down the day's scores and happenings from Rio.
Scores
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| Women | United States | 103-63 | Spain |
| Men | Serbia | 80-95 | Australia |
| Women | Canada | 71-67 | Serbia |
| Women | Japan | 82-66 | Brazil |
| Men | United States | 113-69 | Venezuela |
| Women | Senegal | 64-101 | China |
| Men | France | 88-60 | China |
Recap
Men: United States Beats Venezuela, 113-69
For one quarter, Venezuela looked like they might give the United States a challenge. For the next three quarters, the United States thoroughly erased that notion, eventually beating Venezuela by another huge margin, 113-69.
Paul George (20 points) led the United States off the bench, while Jimmy Butler (17 points), Kevin Durant (16 points, four assists), DeAndre Jordan (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Kyle Lowry (five points, eight assists) highlighted a balanced effort from the gold-medal favorites.
John Cox (19 points) and Gregory Echenique (18 points, seven rebounds) were the lone bright spots for the overmatched Venezuelans.
The two teams were tied at 18 after the first quarter, a disappointing display from the United States. They quickly recovered, however, going on a 30-8 run to pull away from the Venezuelans before the half. The Americans were equally impressive in the fourth quarter, ending the game on a 38-18 run in the fourth quarter.
The United States clearly has more star power on the roster than any other country, but it's the team's versatility, unselfishness and team defense that makes them so impressive.
Australia won't be a pushover on Wednesday, however. The Aussies boast several NBA players and are solid down on the block, so they could give the United States some issues. On the other hand, none of Australia's players likely would even make Team USA, so the Americans will still be heavy favorites.
Venezuela, meanwhile, will take on China on Wednesday.
Women: Japan Beats Brazil, 82-66
Ramu Tokashiki led Japan to a decisive 82-66 win over host nation Brazil on Monday evening.
Tokashiki did a bit of everything for Japan, scoring 23 points while adding nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals. Five other Japanese players scored at least seven points, highlighted by Asami Yoshida's double-double (11 points, 11 assists, two steals).
Four Brazilian starters scored double-digit points, led by Iziane Castro (20 points, two steals). Clarissa dos Santos was also excellent for the hosts, notching 13 points and 16 rebounds.
Brazil will look to rebound against France on Thursday, while Japan will take on Australia that same day.
Women: Canada Beats Serbia, 71-67
Kia Nurse powered Canada off the bench on Monday, leading the team with 25 crucial points as it won 71-67. Nurse was superb, adding five assists and two steals while shooting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Five other Canadians scored seven or more points, while Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe pulled down nine boards. Miah-Marie Langlois added five assists and hit the three-pointer with less than 20 seconds remaining to ice the win.
Four Serbian players scored in double digits, including Jelena Milovanovic, who led the way for the team with 19 points.
Serbia led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter before Canada staged an epic comeback in the final 15 minutes. Both teams were pretty sloppy throughout, however, with Serbia turning the ball over 17 times and Canada giving it away on 19 occasions.
Canada will take on Senegal on Wednesday, while Serbia will face the powerful United States that same day.
Men: Australia Beats Serbia, 95-80
Australia used a huge fourth quarter to separate from Serbia and win, 95-80, in a back-and-forth contest that was tight until the final stages.
Serbia led the game 63-62 after three quarters of play, but Australia used a 33-17 fourth quarter to earn the win.
Patty Mills (26 points), Matthew Dellavedova (23 points, 13 assists, two steals) and Andrew Bogut (nine points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three blocks) led the Aussies, while Miroslav Raduljica (25 points, three assists), Milos Teodosic (17 points, three assists) and Bojan Bogdanovic (12 points, eight rebounds, three assists) led the way for Serbia.
Dellavedova was the story, however. He didn't turn the ball over once in 29 minutes of play and regularly schooled opposing guard Milos Teodosic, per NBA writer Sam Vecenie:
One thing Australia has going in its favor at this tournament? Championship experience, as Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today noted on Saturday:
Australia is now 2-0 in group play and looks like a lock to reach the quarterfinals, while Serbia is 1-1 and will have a fight on its hands to reach the next phase. Given the country's talent, however, they'll still be expected to advance.
Australia next faces the United States on Wednesday, when they'll be expected to suffer their first loss, while Serbia will take on France that same day.
Women: United States Beats Spain, 103-63
The United States cruised in its second game of the Olympics on Monday, dismantling Spain, 103-63, and winning its 43rd straight Olympic contest.
The U.S. has now won its first two games by a combined 105 points.
The U.S. utilized a balanced attack—nine players scored eight or more points, and five players reached double-digit points—and a stifling defense to shut down Spain, one of the better teams in this tournament. Diana Taurasi led the team with 13 points, Tina Charles and Sue Bird paced the team with five assists apiece, and Charles also pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
It's the team's balance and chemistry that is so impressive, according to Mechelle Voepel of ESPNW:
Watching top stars embrace a different role with the team, like Maya Moore, is equally impressive:
"A lot of Olympic teams that I've been on have had offensive power, but now we go all the way down the line to the 12th player," Bird told Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press (h/t the San Francisco Chronicle). "And the minute you stop there's no let-off. That person comes in and can do just as much offensively as the next. And also, we have our foot on the gas pedal."
Alba Torrens was excellent for Spain, scoring 20 points and adding four rebounds and two assists, but her teammates couldn't match her performance.
Still, Spain gave the U.S. a stiffer test than Senegal. The Spanish played stingier defense and were within striking distance at halftime, trailing 54-39. But the U.S. pulled away in the second half, boasting incredible depth and unparalleled star power.
Team USA will next face Serbia on Wednesday, while Spain will take on China that same day.
Women: China Beats Senegal, 101-64
China was ahead by only nine points at halftime during Monday’s game against Senegal, but it dominated the second half to the tune of 54-26 on the way to a commanding 101-64 victory.
Five different players scored in double figures for China, including Mengran Sun and Ting Shao. Sun and Shao each scored 17 points, while the team as a whole drained 9-of-15 shots from three-point range and quickly put the game out of reach in the second half behind some hot shooting.
China also enjoyed a 44-29 advantage on the boards and forced 18 Senegal turnovers.
Senegal didn’t have a realistic chance at the victory during the second half, but it did receive a team-high 16 points from Astou Traore in defeat.
Men: France Beats China, 88-60
The final game of Monday’s slate was never in doubt after France turned in a dominant second quarter. It outscored China 23-9 in the second and put it on cruise control the rest of the way during the 88-60 victory.
The defense that held China to nine points in the second quarter forced 13 turnovers and swarmed any shooting openings. France held China to 38.3 percent shooting from the field and 21.1 percent shooting from three-point range and quickly snuffed out any comeback hopes.
It was a balanced effort for France on both ends of the floor.
Nando De Colo led the team in scoring with 19 points, while San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker posted 14 points and eight assists. Elsewhere, Nicolas Batum grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert nearly tallied a double-double with 10 points and eight boards.
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