Team USA Hammers Argentina, 105-78

The United States men's basketball team came out with a purpose Wednesday and used a 27-2 run to erase an early ten point deficit and belted Argentina 105-78 to advance to the Olympic semfinals in Rio de Janeiro.

Kevin Durant led Team USA with 27 points, including 7-9 from three point range to pace the winners.  Paul George added 17 and DeMarcus Cousins 15 off the bench, while Kyrie Irving had eleven.

Luis Scola led Argentina with 15 points while Manu Ginobli had 14.  Faciando Campazzo added 13 and Andres Nocioni chipped in 12.

Argentina led 19-9 in the first quarter, but Kevin Durant hit a pair of threes and George scored inside to cut the lead to two.  Argentina scored to make it 21-19 but Cousins, Durant and George fueled a 20-0 run that stretched the lead to 36-21 and the rout was on.  Team USA led by sixteen, 56-40 at halftime and 87-61 at the end of three quarters.

Team USA shot 46% from the field, while holding Argentina to 38.5%.  The Americans outrebounded their foes 53-42 and had twelve turnovers to 16 for Argentina.

The US will now face Spain in the semifinals.  Spain easily defeated France in their quarterfinal match 92-67.