TOKYO — The United States men's basketball team advanced to the Olympic quarterfinals on Tuesday in Tokyo by overcoming Ricky Rubio and Bam Adebayo.
Really.
Rubio, the newly-former Timberwolf, played one of the best games of his life, shredding the U.S. defense for 38 points, four rebounds and two assists, keeping Spain in the game until the U.S. pulled away in the third quarter on the way to a 95-81 victory.
The US will face the winner of the Australia-Argentina quarterfinal in the semifinals on Thursday.
Adebayo, who as the United State's starting center is emblematic of their lack of size and frontcourt depth in these Olympics, seemed to be the player holding back the U.