Australia’s hopes for Olympic gold vanish against the US

By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Gregg Popovich wrapped his arms around Australia guard Patty Mills when it was over, and even the coach of the U.S. team was struck by how Australia must have been feeling at the final buzzer. A medal was in the Boomers’ hands. That is, until it wasn’t, in what has become an all-too-familiar refrain for the Australian program. Australia took a 15-point lead and watched helplessly as it became a 23-point deficit at the hands of the U.S. The Americans ended up winning 97-78 n the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Aussie gold-medal hopes, gone again.