This is the fifth Olympic Games in a row, in which the match between America and Spain was held in the knockout stage, and for the fifth time ended with the success of the same team. In 2008 and 2012, the Americans were victorious in the final, in the quarter-finals in 2004, and in the semi-finals in 2016. Now, the confrontation between two teams selected for the podium was at such an early stage of the competition due to their group stage defeat – the United States against France, and Spain against Slovenia.

Ricky Rubio scored 38 points for Spain despite spending only 27 minutes on the field. He hit 13 out of 20 rounds of the match. No other basketball player has ever scored more against a United States team of NBA players. The impressive position of the 31-year-old who plays in the best league in the world every day was not enough, because his friends were in the shadows. Ironically, the team fared better when they were on the bench, because they won this part by 9 points.

The Americans started the game better, it was 17:10 for them, but the Spaniards put in a great run in the second quarter. After the actions of Sergio Rodriguez and Willy Hernangomez, the score was 39:29 for the Iberians, but the opponents managed to equalize even before the long break. The teams went into the locker room at 43:43 and the progress appeared to be open.

But in the third quarter, the American offensive prevailed. Short-term Kevin Durant scored 13 points (29 in total) and his team recovered in 65:49. The Spaniards returned to the game for a while, after making Osman Garuba, who was selected in the NBA draft this year, the score was only 69:65, but after a few moments the American team left again. At 81:66, it became clear who would win.

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For a while, the Pau brothers (6 minutes) and Marc Gasol (10 minutes), two legends of the local team, played briefly in the Spanish national team. Both ended without a point and were most likely their farewell appearances for the national colours. And in the case of 41-year-old Bawa, everything points to this even throughout his career.

The United States will play the winner of the Australia-Argentina match in the semi-finals. In the second pair, Slovenia will face France and Italy winning the match.