drove in 95 runs -- second among major league shortstops

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 careers.Ginobili, 39, and longtime 36-year-old teammate Andres Nocioni 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 two more games.Weve got to build on it, Durant said, but were not satisfied at all.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Nike MLB Jerseys For Sale . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Cheap MLB Jerseys From China . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. https://www.mlbjerseys2020.com/ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. MLB Jerseys 2020 . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. CHICAGO -- While the Chicago Cubs were waiting to find out if they would play the New York Mets or San Francisco Giants in the NL Division Series, Addison Russell thought about the experience he gained in last years playoffs.It was invaluable, even if an injury cut it short.Its pretty important, Russell said Wednesday. I kind of got to see the atmosphere a little bit, especially in that wild-card game and the first games against the Cardinals as well. I got that experience in my back pocket. Hopefully, this first series against whoever it may be, positive, and amped up as well.The Cubs created a buzz in the North Side of Chicago by rolling to a major league-leading 103 wins. Long-suffering fans are hoping for their first title since 1908, and the atmosphere at Wrigley Field figures to be charged when the Division Series opens Friday night.Victories are tougher to come by in October than in May or June, though. Chicagos track record and talent only count for so much in five- or seven-game series.It has to do with good fortune, general manager Jed Hoyer said. That doesnt mean the team that gets there is lucky. Youre going to have to have some breaks along the way.The Cubs won more games than they had since 1910, with one of the deepest lineups and pitching staffs in the game.They boast two NL MVP candidates in Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo and a pair of Cy Young Award contenders in Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks to go with last years winner in Jake Arrieta.They also have a 22-year-old in Russell who emerged as one of the best all-around shortstops in baseball. The NL All-Star is a strong candidate for the Gold Glove and a key contributor at the plate. And he comes into these playoffs looking to stick around unttil the end after showing some flashes in a run last year that ended with an injury.ddddddddddddRussell broke up a no-hit bid by St. Louis John Lackey with a single in the sixth inning of the opener of the NL Division Series. But he pulled his left hamstring sliding into third with a triple in Game 3 against the Cardinals and did not play again.The Cubs were then swept by the Mets in the NLCS, but they came back better this year and so did Russell. He hit 21 homers and drove in 95 runs -- second among major league shortstops -- to go with some spectacular play in the field.Im a little bit more familiar with these guys, Russell said. Ive been playing on this surface for a little bit longer so that makes everything a little bit more comfortable for me.Russell was initially drafted by the Oakland Athletics with the 11th pick in the 2012 draft and appeared to be on a path to becoming their long-term shortstop. But that changed two years ago.With one of the best teams in the majors, Oakland sent Russell to the Cubs in a multiplayer deal for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel.That trade turned some heads in Chicago since they already had one young shortstop in Starlin Castro and another in the system in Javier Baez. But it worked out well.Russell supplanted Castro as the everyday shortstop down the stretch last season after playing second base. That allowed the Cubs to trade Castro to the New York Yankees in the offseason and helped pave the way for Baez to become a super utility player.Now, the Cubs have their sights set on the biggest prize of all. And Russell is a reason why. ' ' '