There was a moment when Brazil perhaps thought they had a chance. They were only eight points behind the United States in the second period.
PUBLICIDAD
A considerable deficit suddenly seemed possible to overcome. But the situation did not last long.
PUBLICIDAD
A 21-2 run brought a sense of normalcy back to the game. And for the twentieth time in 20 Olympic appearances, the Americans will play for a medal.
Devin Booker led a well-distributed effort by scoring 18 points, and the United States had few problems with the Brazilians in the quarterfinals of the Olympic basketball tournament, easily winning 122-87 on Tuesday.
The US team (4-0) will face Serbia (3-1) in the Thursday semifinals. Germany (4-0) will clash with the host France (3-1) in the other match.
The winners of those matches will play on Saturday night for the gold. The losers will face off in the morning for the bronze.
If there was a problem for the Americans, it was this: LeBron James left in the third quarter after receiving an elbow near his left eye. Georginho de Paula hit him in a rebound dispute.
The NBA star fell, placed a towel over his eye, and walked to the locker rooms in the closing moments of the third period.
By then, the game was practically decided. That 21-2 run in the last 3:56 minutes of the first half eliminated any suspense —if there was any— and the United States turned that eight-point lead into a score of 63-36 heading into the final 20 minutes.
Bruno Caboclo was the most productive Brazilian, with 30 points.
France 82, Canada 73
Guerschon Yabusele scored 22 points, Victor Wembanyama grabbed 12 rebounds, and France defeated Canada to advance to their second consecutive semifinal in men's Olympic basketball.
Isaia Cordinier added 20 points for the hosts, who are looking to increase their medal count in this sport after winning silver in Tokyo 2021.
Wembanyama totaled seven points, five assists, three steals, and one block.
Canada reduced what was a 19-point lead for the French team at halftime to a score of 71-66 with less than three minutes left in the game. However, their comeback attempt was halted there.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada with 27 points, while RJ Barrett added 16. The Canadians have not reached the final four round since Los Angeles 1984.
Serbia 95, Australia 90
Nikola Jokic scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Serbia in a comeback victory over Australia in overtime, securing their spot in the semifinals.
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 points for Serbia, which overcame a 24-point deficit in the first half and secured a match-up with the United States or Brazil.
Serbia is seeking its first Olympic medal since Rio de Janeiro 2016, when they won the silver. That was the first Olympic experience for Jokic, who was 21 years old at the time.
Patty Mills scored 26 points—only six after halftime—for Australia, which won the bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago.
Jokic put Serbia ahead 91-90 with just over a minute remaining in overtime. Jack McVeigh missed on the next possession for Australia.
Serbia received the ball and set up Jokic for another basket.
The Australians tried to pass and supply Mills, but the ball was deflected and stolen by Serbia.
Germany 76, Greece 63
Franz Wagner scored 18 points and Germany overcame a slow start to defeat Greece and advance to the semifinals for the first time.
Dennis Schroder added 13 points and eight assists for the current World Cup champions, who will face France on Thursday. Germany's best previous result at the Olympic Games was seventh place in 1992.
Germany is undefeated in the Paris Games after closing the group stage with a 3-0 record.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 22 points for Greece, which was denied its first opportunity in the semifinals in its Olympic debut.
Wagner reached the quarterfinals with an average of 22 points per game, the team's highest, but struggled to get going.
Greece led by 12 at one point, but Germany settled in and took advantage of a great third quarter to take a seven-point lead into the fourth. Germany started the final period with a 13-5 run to increase their lead to 72-57 with 1:50 left to play.