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RIO DE JANEIRO -- The nail-biters ended for the U.S. Olympic mens basketball team.So did a golden era of international basketball.Emphatically stopping a stretch of three straight close games, the Americans advanced to the semifinals by sprinting past Manu Ginobili and Argentina 105-78 on Wednesday night.In front of a chanting, flag-waving crowd of Argentines who came to throw a raucous farewell party for their Golden Generation, the Americans delivered their most complete performance in Rio.What a remarkable run by Argentina and so we knew we had to match that energy tonight. I thought we did, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.Turning a slow start into an early ending with a 27-2 run in the first half, the Americans put away one old rival and set up a meeting with another. They will play Spain on Friday in a rematch of the last two gold-medal games. Australia meets Serbia in the other semifinal.Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Americans, who had played three straight close games for the first time under Krzyzewski, setting off a round of questions at home and in Rio de Janeiro about what was wrong with them.The answer might be nothing. At least there wasnt against Argentina.We wanted to come out and our whole thing was dominating, forward Carmelo Anthony said.The Americans eliminated Argentina for the third straight Olympics, this time ending not only a tournament run for the Argentines but also a couple of careers.Ginobili, 39, and longtime teammate Andres Nocioni, 36, retired from international competition after the game, 12 years after winning gold in Athens.We had a chance to grow up together and do some good things, win some games together. It was fun. Its a lot of years, said Luis Scola, who is also 36 but plans to keep playing. We formed part of something unique we did for our country and its going to be there. Sometimes were not going to win, like today. Sometimes we won, but we fought together for many years.Ginobili scored 14 points in his final game in Argentinas blue and white, tearing up after receiving applause from his fans and warm wishes from his opponents.They congratulated me and Im very proud of their words, Ginobili said. They were very kind, very respectful and when legends of the game showed their respect, it has an extra value.The Americans have won 23 straight in the Olympics since Argentina beat them in the 2004 semifinals, and this was how they usually do it: too much firepower, too much defense and way too much talent.It took a little while to get going, as Argentina opened a 10-point lead. The Argentines made nine of their first 10 shots inside the arc and led 19-9 when Nocioni drilled a 3-pointer. But the Americans finished the first period with a 16-2 run, getting the final six points from DeMarcus Cousins, to take a 25-21 edge to the second.Three-point plays by Cousins and Jimmy Butler around Durants 3-pointer in an 11-0 start to the second made it 36-21 before Facundo Campazzo stopped the onslaught with a three-point play.Cousins, the normal starting center playing as a reserve, finished with 15 points.Spain beat France 92-67 earlier Wednesday, its fourth straight victory after two losses to open the Olympics. The U.S. edged Spain 118-107 in the 2008 final and 107-100 four years ago in London.The loudest crowd yet for a U.S. game, featuring boxer Floyd Mayweather and NBA commissioner Adam Silver, was treated to an explosive performance by the Americans, with devastating crossovers by Durant and Kyrie Irving that left defenders helpless and brought teammates to their feet on the bench.They opened a 25-point lead in the first half and were in control from that point, the first time since their second game in Rio they had it easy.We fed off wanting to play better than the last three games, Durant said.Ginobili, Scola, Nocioni and Carlos Delfino, the remaining Golden Generation players, checked in together for a last run with about 4? minutes left. Argentina fans danced, cheered and completely ignored the crooked numbers on the scoreboard while saying one long goodbye.Ginobili was replaced a few minutes later, hugging teammates, coaches and after the game Krzyzewski, before returning to the court after the teams had headed to their locker rooms to be presented a game ball by an Olympic official.Even Argentinas proud veterans didnt consider themselves medal contenders, especially after the Americans blew them out 111-74 in an exhibition game last month in Las Vegas and came to Rio as the overwhelming favorite.But once play began, the U.S. rarely played up to those expectations, with one narrow victory after another as the competition toughened. The Americans held off Australia by 10, then pulled out three-point victories over Serbia and France.They were finally in top form Wednesday.Now they have to stay there for two more games.Weve got to build on it, Durant said, but were not satisfied at all. Marble Water Bottle Cheap . 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. Cheap Swell Bottles .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. http://www.swellbottleuk.com/ . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Swell Bottle Sale 17 Oz .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Swell Wood Bottle . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. SHANGHAI -- The Asia swing is the rare trip where Patrick Reeds wife doesnt accompany him. She stayed in Houston because theyre finally moving into their new house at The Woodlands.Not that Reed figures to spend that much time in his new digs.American golfers are traveling more than ever, and the 26-year-old Reed is taking that to an extreme. He has played 66 tournaments in the last 24 months (including the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup), and as a long and tiring 2016 starts to wind down, Reed is just getting warmed up.He played in Malaysia last week and is at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai this week. Next week is the Turkish Airlines Open, and then after a week at home, he heads to Dubai for the final event of the European Tour season. After a week back home for Thanksgiving, Reed is off to the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge and then gets on another plane for the Hong Kong Open.And then 20 days before we head to Hawaii, he said, with a grin.The reason for this hectic schedule?I love to compete. I love to play, Reed said on the practice range at Sheshan International, just three hours after his plane landed from Malaysia. When Im home, Im just sitting there wishing I was out playing. Justine feels the same way. It might not be the best strategic way to get your ranking up, but at the end of the day, if you play well it doesnt matter.Reeds ranking really isnt hurt that much by playing because there is a maximum of 52 tournaments that count toward the equation. He is No. 7 in the world, making progress toward that top 5 player in the world comment that attracted so much attention when he won the World Golf Championship at Doral two years ago.Besides, he says he always wanted to be known as a global player.He is going to Antalya next week, conceding that he didnt know where it was (Turkey) while in college in Georgia. He couldnt find Dubai on the map until he went for the first time last year to finish his first year as a European Tour member.I didnt want to play only in the U.S., Reed said. I feel it helps my game traveling overseas. I always wanted to see the world and get out of my comfort zone.Most top players limit themselves to about 22 tournaments a year, feeling as though they need time off to rest their body and mind. So far, Reed said keeping fresh has been the least of his worries.Im stubborn. My mind is great, he said. If anything, the one thing Ill work on is the body. The body can go in dips, and it breaks down my swing.This was his busiest year yet, partly because of the Olympics. Starting with the U.S. Open, Reed played 14 times in 16 weeks through the Ryder Cup. The only tournament he didnt play was the Canadian Open. The other week was an open week before the Tour Championship.Im tired this year, he conceded. But Im still going to do it. I just have to get down when I have long runs and when I need my breaks. This year was unique because even during a week off, you were preparing for a big event. That made it difficult to shut anything down.---RUSSELL RECOGNITION: Russell Knox won twice in the last year, starting with the HSBC Champions, and he is No. 20 in the world. And yet the 31-year-old Scot can still walk through a shopping mall without getting noticed.As long as he doesnt cut off his hair.I told my wife that sometimes when I shave my head, people think Im Justin Timberlake, Knox said Tuesday. And she was like, `No, never. I dont see it. I dont think so. And that same day at the St. Johns Town Center, this woman runs up to me screaming. She gets five steps away and was, `Oh and walked away.Knox said golf fans around Jacksonvillee, Florida, recognize him more.ddddddddddddOutside my home, barely anyone knows me, he said. And Im fine with that.It wasnt clear if Knox was joking when he added Phil Mickelson to that group. He talked about playing with Mickelson for the first time a few years ago at the Wells Fargo Championship, and later was asked if Mickelson knew he was.I still dont think he knows who I am, Knox said. And Im OK with that. Maybe he does. Weve said, `Hi a few times. But hes Phil Mickelson. I dont care what Ive done. Im not Phil Mickelson.---LEXI AND THE SHARK: Lexi Thompson has been added to the field at the Franklin Templeton Shootout, the first woman to compete since Annika Sorenstam in 2006.Thompson is a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, including a major.Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker are the defending champions Dec. 8-10 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Among the newcomers to what used to be known as the Shark Shootout are Justin Thomas, Russell Knox, Kevin Kisner, Kevin Chappell, Smylie Kaufman and Bryson DeChambeau.---REMEMBERING ROMACK: Barbara Romack was a fixture at the U.S. Womens Open, and a playful introduction was all anyone needed to know about her golf.She was the player who never lost to the great Mickey Wright.Wright lost to Romack in the California Girls Junior and the California Womens Amateur. Romack rose to prominence in 1954 when she defeated Wright in the U.S. Womens Amateur at Allegheny Country Club in Pennsylvania.She was my pigeon, Romack once jokingly said of Wright, who became widely regarded as golfs greatest female player.They remained close friends over the years, and Wright was saddened to hear from the USGA that Romack died on Oct. 15 at age 83.I sort of looked up to her as a big sister, Wright said in an email to the USGA. She was great fun, always laughing, and what a marvelous amateur golfer she was. Fine swing and a great putter. Cant believe she is gone, but she will forever be in my memories.Romack was at her best as an amateur, and she was the first woman golfer to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1956 when the magazine referred to her as a little tiger in promoting the Curtis Cup. Romack played on three U.S. teams.She also won the 1952 North & South Amateur at Pinehurst, the 1953 Canadian Womens Amateur and the California Womens Amateur four times.---DIVOTS: Rory McIlroy wasnt planning any equipment changes the rest of the year, though he is putting a TaylorMade driver and fairway metals in his bag for the HSBC Champions. ... Graeme Storm made a bogey on the final hole of the Portugal Masters, costing him his full European Tour card. Only the top 110 after last week are exempt. Storm finished at No. 111 by 100 British pounds. ... Phoenix-area golf fans have a unique 3-for-1 offer. Under a program called Go Green Go Often, they can buy a single-day pass for $50 that gets them into PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events. Those are the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in two weeks, the Waste Management Phoenix Open the first weekend in February and the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in March. ... Doug Hawken is retiring Jan. 31 as president and chief operating officer of Ping. He worked 45 years for the Arizona-based clubmaker.---STAT OF THE WEEK: Hideki Matsuyama is No. 10 in the world ranking, the first Japanese player in the top 10 since Jumbo Ozaki in April 1998.---FINAL WORD: Youre never happy being where you are. Theres always that next level to achieve. -- Russell Knox. ' ' '