The semifinals of the 2012 Olympic basketball tournament from London are set following the completion of Wednesday's quarterfinal round. The two semifinal games will take place on Friday, beginning with Spain taking on Russia, followed by Team USA facing Argentina. Both games are rematches of contentious preliminary-round games, won by Russia and Team USA.
Here is the schedule for Friday's action:
Russia Vs. Spain: The two teams played on August 4, with David Blatt's squad coming away with a tight 77-74 win that allowed Russia to take control of Group B. This second game, though, will be much different. Spain has a tendency to coast in group play and turn it on during the elimination rounds. That's how they got through France in an incredibly intense quarterfinals. Russia, meanwhile, took care of Lithuania, setting up this matchup. (noon EST, NBC Sports Network)
Team USA Vs. Argentina: Team USA easily won when these two teams played in the final game of group play, but tempers flared at the end of the third quarter when Facundo Campazzo hit Carmelo Anthony in the groin as he shot a three-pointer. Argentina conceded defeat then, but they won't do so as easily in this contest. This could be the swan song for the golden generation of Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Pablo Prigioni and Andres Nocioni, so they will be eager to go out playing as hard as they can. (4 p.m. EST, NBC Sports Network)
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