Termine » ire to return in 2018. His career, which started

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Three wins from gold, and still no reason to think it will be easy for the U.S. mens basketball team.This is a bumpy road in Rio, but at least the Americans know Klay Thompson is finally along for the ride.Thompson ended an Olympic-long slump with seven 3-pointers and 30 points, and the Americans needed almost all of them to hold off France 100-97 on Sunday.The U.S. won its 50th straight tournament game, but the last three have been nothing like most of the previous 47.Weve obviously had three close games in a row by our standards, forward Kevin Durant said. A win is a win. Weve got to think about how we can be better but we cant be satisfied.Winning by three for the second consecutive game, the U.S. improved to 5-0 and clinched first place in Group A. The Americans open quarterfinal play Wednesday, still the favorite but looking as beatable as ever under Mike Krzyzewski.Their opponents couldnt be determined until the completion of play Monday in the log-jammed Group B, where all six teams are still alive. The U.S. will play whichever team finishes fourth.This isnt a tournament that were going to just dominate, U.S. guard Paul George said. Theres talent around this world and theyre showcasing it. For us, its just figuring out how were going to win. Were having spurts of dominating, but were just not finding ways to put a full 40 minutes together.Nando de Colo and Thomas Heurtel each scored 18 points, carrying France while Tony Parker sat with a toe injury. Every time the Americans built a big lead, the fifth-ranked French chipped away.You cant panic against this team, France forward Nicolas Batum said. Weve been together for a while. Weve been in those games down 15 and have to find a way to come back. Weve got guys experienced, Boris (Diaw) and Tony, myself and De Colo have been with this team for 8-10 years, too.Durant scored 17 points after he took just four shots in the previous game, the Americans 94-91 victory over Serbia on Friday.After pounding China and Venezuela to open the Olympics, the Americans pulled away late to beat Australia 98-88 before edging the Serbs when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.The Americans could never put away the French in this one, even with Thompson having his first good performance in Rio de Janeiro.Banished to the bench earlier in the tournament, he rejoined the starting lineup Sunday and came out firing -- and this time, making. He entered with just 11 points on 4-for-26 shooting in the first four games.He hit five 3-pointers in the third quarter alone, the last making the lead seem safe at 78-62. But the French were back within four by midway through the fourth before Kyrie Irving threw a falling-down lob pass that Durant slammed down on the fast break.We were up 16 with two minutes left in the third and that was our time to put the game away, Thompson said. We have to learn from it. You cant let up against an explosive team like France.Even a France team missing Parker, the four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who had been limited to about 20-25 minutes per game here. Hes been getting back into game shape after missing time during their training when his wife gave birth to their second son last month.This time he didnt play at all because of a toe injury.Hes fine. Hes resting, said French coach Vincent Collet, who also de Colo out in the final minutes after he banged his leg.Parker was hardly missed because de Colo and Heurtel kept carving up a U.S. defense that was expected to be the teams strength but has been vulnerable against the crafty international offenses.Luckily for the Americans, this time they could count on offense from Thompson to get them through.One of the worlds best shooters had been bafflingly bad, missing 13 of his 16 3-point attempts in Rio. Krzyzewski seemed committed to getting him on track in this one and it worked.He had back-to-back 3s midway through the third and the Golden State All-Star looked like a Salpico -- thats Portuguese for Splash -- Brother again with three more in a 2-minute span later in the period.It felt good to see the ball go in, Im not going to lie, but it felt better to get the win, Thompson said. I dont care if I shoot 10 percent the rest of the tournament, if we win the gold medal thats all that really matters. But its something I can build off and it helps.The way things are going, the Americans will take all the help they can get.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Cheap Basketball Jerseys China . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. http://www.cheapbasketballjerseysoutlet.com/ .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Stitched Basketball Jerseys . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Cheap NBA Jerseys China . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Jenson Button admits he would have loved to drive for Ferrari at some point in his Formula One career, which looks likely to be finished after 17 seasons.Button is taking a one-year sabbatical from the sport in 2017 but admitted during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that it felt like the final race and that he currently has no desire to return in 2018. His career, which started in 2000, included stints with Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn -- where he won his world championship -- before finishing at McLaren.Button says he ticked off two of the three ambitions he had when entering F1 and that he once turned down an opportunity to have a stint with the iconic Italian team.If it was the right situation, yeah of course I would have loved to drive for Ferrari, Button told Eddie Jordan in an interview on the Top Gear website. There were three teams that I wanted to drive for in F1 when I arrived, and they were Williams, Ferrari and McLarren, and Ive driven for two of them.ddddddddddddThere was an opportunity at one point, but I thought [McLaren] was the best place to be.Button leaves the sport with the third-most starts in the history of Formula One. He is being replaced by Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren but thinks the man with the most potential for future world championships is further up the grid at Red Bull.When asked which of the new generation of drivers he is tipping for future success, Button replied: Ricky Bobby - Daniel Ricciardo. Max is an amazing talent, and he will, Im sure, be fighting for the World Championship one day, but I love the way that Daniel Ricciardo has upped his game this year.Hes the older driver, more experienced driver, but he hasnt cracked under pressure, and I really like that about him. 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