LONDRES (AP) — LeBron James consiguió un triple doble y Estados Unidos prendió los motores en el tercer parcial para derrotar el miércoles 119-86 a Australia y avanzar a las semifinales del básquetbol de los Juegos Olímpicos.

El próximo oponente de Estados Unidos es un viejo conocido: Argentina, la misma selección a la que venció en las semifinales de Beijing 2008, y que venció a los norteamericanos en las semis hace ocho años en Atenas.

"Creo que jugamos bien en la primera mitad, pero tuvimos un horrible inicio en la segunda mitad y estoy orgulloso de mi equipo por haber liquidado", dijo el entrenador de los estadounidenses Mike Krzyzewski. "Dominamos los rebotes ofensivos, la defensiva también mejoró y como consecuencia ya explotamos al ataque".

James acumuló 11 puntos, 12 rebotes y 14 asistencias para encabezar el ataque de los estadounidenses, que buscan repetir el oro que conquistaron en Beijing.

"(James) es un jugador sensacional, muy atlético. Apenas estaba viendo videos del 'Dream Team' de 1992 y Scottie Pippen casi tenía triples dobles cada noche. Eso pasa cuando tienes a alguien que sabe hacerlo todo", dijo Kobe Bryant, quien metió seis triples en la segunda mitad y acabó con 20 puntos, su máxima cifra en Londres.

Deron Williams agregó 18 y Carmelo Anthony 17.

Patrick Mills con 26 puntos y Joe Ingles con 19 fueron los mejores jugadores por Australia.

Australia comenzó la segunda mitad con una racha de 11-0 y se acercó a 56-53 con 8:20 por jugar en el tercer parcial, pero Bryant metió un par de triples para despegar a los estadounidenses en la pizarra.

"En este equipo siempre habrá tiros fáciles porque hay muchos buenos jugadores, entré en ritmo y tuve la luz verde para hacer los tiros", dijo Bryant. "Estaba buscando un juego en el que algo me motivara, algo que despertara al 'Mamba Negra' (su apodo) y hoy fue ese día".

La delantera llegó a ser de 29 puntos con poco más de tres minutos en el encuentro después de otros tres triples de Bryant. James agregó otro disparo de larga distancia y Australia bajó los brazos en la recta final.

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