Saitama (Japan) (AFP)

The American basketball players, led by Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, efficient in attack, crushed the Czechs (119-84), taking enough care of their points difference to be sure to finish better second in the group stage of the Olympic tournament, at the Games from Tokyo.

A second victory was needed for Team USA, Saturday at the Super Arena in Saitama, after that even more widely obtained at the expense of Iran (120-66) and especially since its surprise defeat at the opening of the competition against France (83-76).

Their combustion was a little slow since the Czechs won the first quarter (25-18), thanks in particular to the address of Blake Schilb (17 pts).

It was Durant who sounded the awakening of the USA, his 23 points (at 8/11, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) helping to put his team in front of the score (47-43) at the break.

Tatum (27 pts at 10/16) took over in the second half, to get the biggest possible gap.

# photo1

The best was therefore seen in attack on the American side, which still favored shots at mid-distance or even behind the arc (20/42), without going too much to rub inside, clearly the area where Gregg's men Popovich seem less armed.

The United States therefore finished second in Group B, behind France.

They have a differential of +82 points, which is already the biggest, compared to the other second.

In Group A, Italy finished at +16.

In the C, Slovenia (+53) and Spain (+21) face each other on Sunday for first place and the loser, guaranteed to finish second, will not be able to overtake the Americans on a point average.

Therefore, in view of the draw to determine the posters for the quarterfinals and which will be carried out on Sunday evening, Team USA is guaranteed to be transferred to the same pot as the first three of each group, in this case. France, Australia, as well as Slovenia or Spain.

In the other pot will be the other two second - Italy and Slovenia or Spain - and the two best thirds, which will be Germany for group A (-16) and the winner of the match between Argentina (-28) and Japan (-46) in Group C, because the Czech Republic is out of the race (-49).

© 2021 AFP