may be plenty more rep duties to come, judging by a revitalise

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Three wins from gold, and still no reason to think it will be easy for the U.S. mens basketball team.This is a bumpy road in Rio, but at least the Americans know Klay Thompson is finally along for the ride.Thompson ended an Olympic-long slump with seven 3-pointers and 30 points, and the Americans needed almost all of them to hold off France 100-97 on Sunday.The U.S. won its 50th straight tournament game, but the last three have been nothing like most of the previous 47.Weve obviously had three close games in a row by our standards, forward Kevin Durant said. A win is a win. Weve got to think about how we can be better but we cant be satisfied.Winning by three for the second consecutive game, the U.S. improved to 5-0 and clinched first place in Group A. The Americans open quarterfinal play Wednesday, still the favorite but looking as beatable as ever under Mike Krzyzewski.Their opponents couldnt be determined until the completion of play Monday in the log-jammed Group B, where all six teams are still alive. The U.S. will play whichever team finishes fourth.This isnt a tournament that were going to just dominate, U.S. guard Paul George said. Theres talent around this world and theyre showcasing it. For us, its just figuring out how were going to win. Were having spurts of dominating, but were just not finding ways to put a full 40 minutes together.Nando de Colo and Thomas Heurtel each scored 18 points, carrying France while Tony Parker sat with a toe injury. Every time the Americans built a big lead, the fifth-ranked French chipped away.You cant panic against this team, France forward Nicolas Batum said. Weve been together for a while. Weve been in those games down 15 and have to find a way to come back. Weve got guys experienced, Boris (Diaw) and Tony, myself and De Colo have been with this team for 8-10 years, too.Durant scored 17 points after he took just four shots in the previous game, the Americans 94-91 victory over Serbia on Friday.After pounding China and Venezuela to open the Olympics, the Americans pulled away late to beat Australia 98-88 before edging the Serbs when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.The Americans could never put away the French in this one, even with Thompson having his first good performance in Rio de Janeiro.Banished to the bench earlier in the tournament, he rejoined the starting lineup Sunday and came out firing -- and this time, making. He entered with just 11 points on 4-for-26 shooting in the first four games.He hit five 3-pointers in the third quarter alone, the last making the lead seem safe at 78-62. But the French were back within four by midway through the fourth before Kyrie Irving threw a falling-down lob pass that Durant slammed down on the fast break.We were up 16 with two minutes left in the third and that was our time to put the game away, Thompson said. We have to learn from it. You cant let up against an explosive team like France.Even a France team missing Parker, the four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who had been limited to about 20-25 minutes per game here. Hes been getting back into game shape after missing time during their training when his wife gave birth to their second son last month.This time he didnt play at all because of a toe injury.Hes fine. Hes resting, said French coach Vincent Collet, who also de Colo out in the final minutes after he banged his leg.Parker was hardly missed because de Colo and Heurtel kept carving up a U.S. defense that was expected to be the teams strength but has been vulnerable against the crafty international offenses.Luckily for the Americans, this time they could count on offense from Thompson to get them through.One of the worlds best shooters had been bafflingly bad, missing 13 of his 16 3-point attempts in Rio. Krzyzewski seemed committed to getting him on track in this one and it worked.He had back-to-back 3s midway through the third and the Golden State All-Star looked like a Salpico -- thats Portuguese for Splash -- Brother again with three more in a 2-minute span later in the period.It felt good to see the ball go in, Im not going to lie, but it felt better to get the win, Thompson said. I dont care if I shoot 10 percent the rest of the tournament, if we win the gold medal thats all that really matters. But its something I can build off and it helps.The way things are going, the Americans will take all the help they can get.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BriancmahoneyClearance Air Max 97 Online . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Air Max 97 Cheap . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. http://www.airmax97discount.com/ . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Authentic Air Max 97 Sale . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Cheap Air Max 97 For Womens . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively.In what will sound alarm bells for NSW fans, all-conquering Queensland skipper Cameron Smith reckons there is no end in sight to his representative career.Smith, 33, had been expected to concentrate solely on NRL duties with Melbourne after the 2018 season.But the veteran hooker has clearly had a rethink after helping usher in the 2017 World Cup draw in Brisbane on Tuesday.Smith guided the Maroons to 10 State of Origin series wins in 11 years in 2016, taking his Queensland tally to a record 39 games.He has played 44 Tests for Australia.And there may be plenty more rep duties to come, judging by a revitalised Smith.I havent really put an end date to any of my representative duties, said Smith.If I am playing well and healthy and the selection committee believe I am the best man for the job I will put my hand up.But Smith reckons next years tournament will be his last World Cup - for now.I think so. I will be getting on a little bbit, he laughed.ddddddddddddHowever, Smith added: More than likely this may be my last one.Smith has had a glittering representative career.Yet redemption will motivate Smith ahead of the 2017 World Cup.The last time a World Cup was held in Australia, New Zealand shocked the hosts to claim the 2008 crown in a Brisbane grand final boilover.Eight years later organisers confirmed on Tuesday the 2017 World Cup decider would again be held at Suncorp Stadium.The last time we had a World Cup final wasnt so great, Smith said.So hopefully we get a chance to come back and make amends.Ten-time World Cup champions Australia will play pool games against Wayne Bennetts England in Melbourne, France in Canberra and Lebanon in Sydney before an expected quarter-final in Darwin next year under the newly released draw. ' ' '