Mighty US and world champions Germany march on into basketball semis

Top favourites United States and world champions Germany remained on course towards meeting in the Olympic men's basketball final by reaching the semi-finals on Tuesday.The star-studded US team were all over Brazil in a 122-87 triumph while Germans outlasted Greece 76-63 after a poor start.Both now face opponents on Thursday they beat in the group stage and in pre-Games tune-ups.The US will be up against World Cup runners Serbia who overcame a 24-point deficit in the first half to beat Australia 95-90 in extra time.Germany face another date with hosts France who beat fancied Canada 82-73 even though their star Victor Wembanyama only managed seven points.US stars roll onThe US have won the last four golds and with the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant have a much stronger team than at last year's worlds where they were beaten by the Germans in the semis.The Phoennix Suns' Durant put the US into triple digits eight minutes before the end against Brazil and with 11 points became the nation's l eading overall scorer at the Olympics in his fourth Games.Brazil briefly led 4-2 and trailed by only eight in the second quarter but a 21-2 run by the Americans for a 63-36 half-time lead ended all doubts about the outcome.Devin Booker led the way with 18 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 annd James 12 while Bruno Caboclo paced Brazil with 30 points.The US now meet the Serbians again who they trounced 110-84 in their opener but James warned that 'every game is its own test.'It don't matter what happened in the first two, it's about what goes down Thursday night. So we need to lock in on our film session tomorrow, lock in during the day on Thursday and then come out and be ready to go.''We understand what the main goal is, and the main goal is for us to win gold. That's all I care about.'Serbia fight backLed by Nikola Jokic's 21 points and 14 rebounds, the 2016 silver medallists rallied from 48-24 down in the second quarter to beat Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Australia.Patty Mills scored with 1.4 seconds left to force extra-time for Australia but it was to no avail in the end because four unanswered points from Jokic gave the Serbians the decisive lead.Mills' 26 points and Josh Giddey's 25 were not enough for Australia.Germany pass Greece testGermany trailed by 10 after the first quarter against Greece led by NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, but fought to 36-36 at half-time before gradually pulling away after the break.Franz Wagner, hailed for his monster dunk in the group match against France, had 18 points to pace the Germans who are now one win away from a first-ever medal.Captain Dennis Schröder had 13 which included three three-pointers while the game-high 24 from Antetokounmpo were not good enough for Greece to avoid defeat.'We have made history. It is great to play with this team,' Schröder said.France stay aliveFrance beat Canada thanks to a strong 23-10 first-quarter start as 22 points from Guerschon Yabusele and 20 from Isaia Cordinier saw them beat Canada despite Wembayana's off-day with 2 from 10 shooting, including 0-6 from three-point range.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 27 points for Canada were not enough to remain in medal contention.'We had 40 solid minutes, and I think if I made my shots we would have won the game even earlier,' Wembayana said.Source: Ghana News Agency