Olympics: US Dominates Basketball Tournament, Advances to Medal Round as Top Seed

In a high-stakes quarterfinals match in Paris on Tuesday, the U.S. will face Brazil in a win-or-go-home scenario. This follows their commanding victory over Puerto Rico, securing the top seed for the medal round at the Paris Olympics.

In Villeneuve-D’Ascq, France, the U.S. continued its dominion in group play. Anthony Edwards led the charge with 26 points, part of a six-player cohort reaching double figures, as the team routed Puerto Rico 104-83 on Saturday. The Americans, now 3-0 in the Olympics and 8-0 for the summer, are showing no signs of slowing down.

Key contributions came from Joel Embiid, who tallied 15 points, and Kevin Durant, who added 11 points. Durant’s performance brought him within five points of Lisa Leslie’s all-time Olympic scoring record for the U.S. LeBron James also made a significant impact, finishing with 10 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in just 18 minutes of play. Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum each contributed 10 points, while Jrue Holiday sat out due to an ankle injury sustained in a previous game against South Sudan.

Puerto Rico, led by Jose Alvarado with 18 points, offered resistance in the first quarter, even taking an eight-point lead at one point. However, the U.S. quickly turned things around, dominating the second quarter 39-16 en route to a substantial halftime lead of 64-45. Remarkable performances, including James’ swift six-assist burst and a concluding dunk, established a definitive momentum shift.

This was the first Olympic clash between the U.S. and Puerto Rico since Athens 2004, where Puerto Rico handed the U.S. a surprising defeat. This time, the U.S. reversed the script, demonstrating their scoring prowess and ability to control the game.

The victory rounded off a series of decisive wins for the Americans in France, including a 26-point runaway against Serbia and a 17-point triumph over South Sudan. The U.S. now looks ahead to continuing its undefeated run with its contest against Brazil.