USA 119 Australia 86: Bryant sparks into life to help Dream Team make semi-final

Kobe Bryant exploded into life in the second half as the United States eased into the semi-finals of the London Olympics.
Australia fought hard to keep the Americans in check, but had no answer once Bryant found his stroke.
The Los Angeles Lakers man had done little to live up to his superstar status in London prior to this game and reached half-time 0-for-four from the field and with as many fouls committed - 14 - as field goals made in the entire tournament.

On the march: US guard Kobe Bryant is challenged by Australian guard Matt Dellavedova

But that changed in a big way in the second half as he made six-of-nine three-point attempts to fire a United States surge that killed off the Boomers.
Australia played the Americans hard in the first half but were let down by the simple things.
They reached the interval shooting just nine of 17 from the free-throw line.

Hitting the deck: US guard Deron Williams falls to the ground

They were also missing some straightforward lay-ups, with Patty Mills, Aron Baynes and Aleks Maric all guilty.
That allowed an American team hardly firing on all cylinders themselves to pull away gradually.
Deron Williams hit a pair of free throws late in the first quarter to make it 26-16.

Beating his man: Bryant passes the ball around the head of David Andersen

Kevin Love made it 56-40 late in the first half, but Australia grabbed the last two points through Mills' free throws and then exploded out of the gates after the break.
Mills and Joe Ingles combined on an 11-0 run, with Ingles hitting back-to-back three-pointers to make it 56-53.
The game stayed close until Bryant came up with back-to-back three-pointers that had his team-mates off their seats on the bench as the lead moved to 70-58.

Closer to a medal: LeBron James and the rest of the USA team will play in the semi-final

A huge slam from Durant made it 80-66 as the Americans stepped it up late in the third quarter.
Bryant continued to pour in the points, and then Durant, LeBron James and James Harden brought out the party tricks with a series of late dunks.
Bryant finished with 20 points, Deron Williams had 18 and Carmelo Anthony 17. Kevin Durant added 14, James 11 and Love 10.
Mills led Australia with 26 and Ingles had 19.