Serbia obliterates Australia, will face U.S. in gold-medal match
RIO DE JANEIRO - Milos Teodosic scored 22 points as Serbia, which pushed the star-studded U.S. team to the final seconds before losing earlier in the Rio Games, moved into the Olympic gold-medal game against the Americans with a shockingly easy 87-61 semifinal win over Australia on Friday.
Stefan Markovic scored 14 and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets had 11 rebounds for the Serbs, who will get another crack at the U.S. on Sunday. The two-time defending titlists held off Spain 82-76 to advance.
Serbia's win guaranteed its first Olympic medal in men's basketball since gaining independence in 2006.
The Aussies, too, were hoping to play the U.S. again, but they scored just 5 points in the first quarter and will have to beat Spain for their first Top 3 finish.
With five NBA players, Australia brought its most talented team ever to Brazil. But the Aussies couldn't overcome their horrendous start.