Summary Australia advanced its quest for first Olympic men's basketball medal Wednesday by downing Lithuania
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 17, 2016 (AFP) - Australia advanced its quest for a first Olympic men s basketball medal Wednesday by downing Lithuania while European champion Spain routed France to make the semi-finals of a third consecutive Olympics.
Patty Mills scored 24 points, Aron Baynes had 16 and Matthew Dellavedova added 15 as NBA champions sparked Australia over Lithuania 90-64 and into Friday s semi-finals.
"We have set the goal of winning the gold medal. Today was just another step in the journey," Dellavedova said.
"We re going to have to work hard for it but that s something we re willing to do."
Nikola Mirotic, a Chicago Bulls forward, scored 23 points and Willy Hernangomez added 18 to power Spain over France 92-67.
The Spaniards settled for silver behind the Americans in 2008 and 2012 but seek a golden breakthrough in Rio.
NBA veteran Tony Parker scored 14 points and Nando de Colo added 13 for France while Hernangomez scored eight points in a 16-6 run that put Spain ahead 33-22 and comfortably in front until the end.
Australia next will face the winner of a later quarter-final between Serbia and Croatia while Spain will face either the defending champion US NBA stars or Argentina in Friday s semi-finals.
The Boomers have a best Olympic finish of fourth, losing bronze medal games to the United States in 1988 and to Lithuania in 1996 and 2000.
"We haven t gotten the recognition on the world stage because we haven t won anything. These guys are determined to change that," Australia coach Andrej Lemanis said.
Dellavedova helped Cleveland win the NBA Finals two months ago. Mills and Baynes played for 2014 NBA champion San Antonio and Andrew Bogut -- who had six points, seven rebounds and six assists Wednesday -- helped Golden State to the throne in 2015.
"All that experience has come together at the right time for us as a nation," Lemanis said of the golden quest.
"It s more than a belief. It s a desire. We haven t achieved what we want to achieve yet."
Mills is a major factor instilling that belief and inspiration in his teammates.
"He s a leader who inspires others to do their best," Lemanis said of Mills.
"He has driven the belief we re good enough to win a gold medal. That gave us that sharp edge focus. We are good enough to do that."
- More than you can imagine -
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The Aussies played the US team of NBA stars tight before losing 98-88 in group play and the two-time defending champion Americans edged Serbia and France by only three points after that.
The Americans have not lost in 10 years but appear vulnerable this time around.
"We believe. We believe we can beat teams," Bogut said.
"We came in as a group with that mindset and play hard. We re not there yet. We want to win our next game."
Mills wants two more.
"A long road still for us for where we want to go to be the last ones standing," Mills said. "It means more than you can imagine."
Australia outscored Lithuania 20-3 in a key span around the first quarter break for a 36-20 lead and stayed securely ahead to the finish.
Mills had eight points and Dellavedova six in the crucial run.
"We came out and threw the first punch," Mills said. "After that it was a matter of staying consistent and keeping them down."
Lithuania had played for bronze in five of the past six Olympics, winning three times.
"We weren t ready mentally," Lithuania guard Mantas Kalnietis said.
"It s really sad because our country waits (for) a medal and when you lose in the quarterfinal, it s not what we wanted."
