Team USA leaves no doubt, routs Argentina to reach semis

Published August 17, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Kevin Durant #5 of United States reacts in the first half while taking on Argentina during the Men's Quarterfinal match on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The U.S. men's basketball team powered into the semifinals of the Olympics, beating Argentina 105-78 on Wednesday night.

Emphatically ending a stretch of three straight close games, the Americans turned a slow start into an early ending with a 27-2 run in the first half.

They will meet Spain on Friday in a rematch of the last two gold-medal games. Spain beat France 92-67 earlier Wednesday.

Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Americans.

Luis Scola scored 15 points and Manu Ginobili had 14 for Argentina in what's expected to the final time the remaining core members of its Golden Generation play together.

Ginobili was taken out in the last few minutes of the game and saluted by the fans, then embraced by each of his teammates on the bench. After the teams headed to their locker rooms, Ginobili returned and was presented the game ball by an Olympic official.

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