Atlanta Summer Olympics 1996 Basketball #3068t

The Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996 featured an exciting basketball competition that drew fans from all over the world. The tournament showcased the best men’s basketball teams from around the globe and provided fans with some unforgettable moments.

The tournament consisted of 12 teams divided into two groups of six, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. The United States, represented by the “Dream Team III,” was the heavy favorite to win the gold medal and lived up to expectations with a dominant performance throughout the tournament.

In the preliminary round, the United States easily won all of their games, including a 133-70 victory over China and a 101-71 win against Lithuania. Other teams that advanced to the quarterfinals included Yugoslavia, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Croatia, and Italy.

In the quarterfinals, the United States faced Australia and once again cruised to victory with a score of 101-73. Yugoslavia, Croatia, and Lithuania also advanced to the semifinals, while Brazil, Argentina, Greece, and Italy were eliminated from the tournament.

In the semifinals, the United States faced Lithuania and won by a score of 101-76, while Yugoslavia defeated Croatia in a closely contested match with a score of 66-63. This set up a final showdown between the United States and Yugoslavia for the gold medal.

The gold medal game was a highly anticipated matchup, with the United States facing off against Yugoslavia in a rematch of the 1995 FIBA World Championship final. The game was a close battle in the first half, with Yugoslavia keeping pace with the United States and trailing by just three points at halftime.

However, in the second half, the United States turned up the heat and pulled away to win the game 95-69, claiming the gold medal and cementing their status as the best basketball team in the world. Yugoslavia settled for the silver medal, while Lithuania won the bronze medal after defeating Croatia in the consolation game.

The basketball competition at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics was a thrilling event that showcased some of the best players from around the world. The dominance of the United States team and their gold medal victory will be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament.