The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, August 23) -- Lithuania is looking for its fourth bronze medal over the last five Olympics, while the United States is ready for its return to glory when the Men's Basketball gold and bronze medal games take place at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium on Sunday, August 24.
12:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8)
Lithuania vs. Argentina
Lithuania holds a 3-1 record over Argentina in major international competition. In the preliminary round of this tournament, Lithuania prevailed 79-75, and their last meeting prior to the tournament was a 77-76 Lithuania victory at the 1998 World Championships in Greece.
Lithuania won the bronze medal at Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta and Sydney while finishing fourth at Athens, where Argentina won the gold. Guard Sarunas Jasikevicius is the leading scorer for the Lithuanians with 13.6 points per game while also averaging a tournament-high 5.6 assists per match.
Argentina will be without its best and most influential player for this match, with Manu Ginobili, who aggravated a left ankle injury during the semifinal against the US Team. Luis Scola will be left to shoulder much of Argentina's scoring load, which should be within his capability considering he is second in tournament scoring with 19.3 points per game.
Argentina commits the fewest turnovers (13.3) of the four teams in the medal round and dishes out 15 assists per match, second in the tournament.
2:30 (UTC/GMT +8)
Spain vs. United States
The United States holds a 13-2 record over Spain in major international competition. Their most recent meeting was in the preliminary round earlier in this tournament when the US team prevailed 119-82.
In that match, the US team won running the fast break and using a smothering full-court pressure to defend their basket. The Spanish have to again contend with the US speed and find a way to slip through the tough US defense. The Spanish also have to reduce their turnovers and work the clock to their advantage, cutting into the number of times the US can launch its vaunted offensive attack.
The United States leads the tournament in seven statistical categories, including field goal percentage (54.4), points (104.6 ppg) and assists (19 per game). US forward Lebron James is the leading scorer for his team, averaging 15.7 points per game and shooting 59 percent from the floor.
The United States have five players averaging double figures in points per game, with James joined by Dwayne Wade (14.4), Kobe Bryant (14.3), Carmelo Anthony (11.3) and Dwight Howard (11.3).
Spain's Jose Manuel Calderon has been ruled out of the match by the Spanish team doctor due to a groin injury. Spain is the best defensive team at Beijing 2008, giving up only 73.4 points a match. It is also the second-leading rebounding team in the tournament, pulling down 39.4 boards a match. Center Pau Gasol is the tournament's leading scorer, averaging 19.4 points and 7.1 rebounds (fifth overall) per match. Seventeen-year-old Ricky Rubio is fifth in steals, averaging two per match.
Rubio is guaranteed at least a silver medal, and will become the youngest player to win an Olympic Men's Basketball medal of any color.
