Olympics: Dream Team sets up possible 1972 replay

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USA routed Argentina 126-97 Monday to remain unbeaten and set up showdowns in Wednesday's Olympic quarter-finals, with the alluring chance of a US-Russia gold medal final on Sunday.

The Americans could meet Russia 40 years after a US squad lost to the Soviet Union in a controversial Olympic final where the last seconds were played three times before the Soviets won, the first US defeat in Olympic history.

"I'm up for that," US star Kobe Bryant said. "That would be something special."

Indeed. So bitter were the feelings that the US silver medals from 1972 remain unclaimed to this day.

But first, those top-seeded teams must navigate a difficult playoff road that begins Wednesday when the US multi-millionaire superstars face Australia, Argentina will meet Brazil, Russia will play Lithuania and Spain tests France.

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Spanish NBA stars blamed a fourth-quarter fade that led to an 88-82 loss to Brazil on nagging inconsistency, not a deliberate desire to lose in order to postpone a playoff matchup against the United States.

"This team always plays to win. Always," Spanish guard Jose Calderon of the NBA Toronto Raptors said. "We're never going to speculate about that. Never."

Spain fell to a Brazil side that lacked NBA Washington Wizards centre Nene Hilario, who is among the Olympic rebound and blocked shot leaders.

"We wanted to come out with a victory," Brazil's Larry Taylor said. "We can't worry about the future. This builds us lots of momentum but the road ahead is still going to be tough."

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Lithuania claimed the last quarter-final berth by beating Tunisia 76-63, Renaldas Seibutis scored all 10 of his points in a late 13-3 run that broke a deadlock at 59-59 and sealed the African champions' fate.

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Nicolas Batum scored 23 points to power France over Nigeria 79-73. Batum scored nine points in a late 13-6 French run to break a 62-62 deadlock and hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to seal the Africans' fate.

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Britain defeated winless China 90-58 in a game between teams already eliminated from playoff contention. But it was Britain's first victory in Olympic group play after their 1948 men and this year's women went winless.