U.S. thwarts Spanish breakthrough
by
The Associated Press
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Today at 2:27 a.m.
United States' Kevin Durant (7), right, tries to block Spain's Ricky Rubio (9), left, during men's basketball quarterfinal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
SAITAMA, Japan -- Back and forth they went, the three-time defending Olympic champions from the U.S. on one side, the reigning Basketball World Cup champions from Spain on the other.
The difference: The Americans had Kevin Durant.
Durant scored 29 points to keep his quest for a third Olympic title alive, and the Americans are headed to the medal round after ousting Spain 95-81 on Tuesday in a quarterfinal matchup at the Tokyo Games.