USA vs. Argentina basketball highlights Monday’s Olympic schedule

The United States men’s basketball already has qualified for the quarterfinal round, which begins Wednesday. But the latest “Dream Team” will face its toughest test of these Games so far when it faces Argentina Monday in the final game of the preliminaries. Bet on it at WagerWeb.com.

Back in a July 22 exhibition in Barcelona, Kevin Durant scored 27 points to lead the USA its closest game since they gathered for the Olympics, 86-80 over the Argentines. The Americans were up 19-3 at one point but their lead was down to four with 2:50 left after Spurs and Argentina star Manu Ginobili’s three-point play. Durant and Chris Paul then hit big 3-pointers as the Americans held off their opponents. Kobe Bryant added 18 points and LeBron James had 15 for the U.S.

Ginobili scored 23 points, Carlos Delfino had 15 and Luis Scola 14 for Argentina. That country won the 2004 Olympic gold medal, beating the U.S. in the semifinals. The Americans returned the favor four years later in the same round before recapturing the gold.

Gold will be handed out Monday in the men’s 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles and the U.S. is a top contender in both. In Beijing, Team USA pulled off a medal sweep of the 400 as LaShawn Merritt captured his first Olympic gold in 43.75, with Athens champion Jeremy Wariner second in 44.74 and David Neville this in 44.80. Merritt is the lone veteran returning to the Olympics for the U.S. as he will be joined in London by collegians Tony McQuay and Bryshon Nellum. Another American medal sweep would be extraordinary as the field of competitors is formidable. Heading that group is Grenada’s Kirani James, the 2011 world champion.

In the 400m hurdles, the USA also pulled off a medal sweep in Beijing with Angelo Taylor winning gold, Kerron Clement taking silver and Bershawn “Batman” Jackson earning bronze. Taylor and Jackson finished outside of the medals and Clement was a non-factor at the 2011 World Championships, but Taylor and Clement are back to the Games alongside teammate Michael Tinsley. Great Britain has a gold-medal hopeful in Dai Greene, the 2011 world champion.

Athletics (all times Eastern)

At Olympic Stadium

Men’s 800 round 1, Discus qualifying; Women’s 100 Hurdles round 1, 1500 round 1, Shot Put qualifying, 5 a.m.

Men’s 400 final, 400 Hurdles final; Women’s 200 round 1, 400 Hurdles semifinals, 3000 Steeplechase final, Pole Vault final, Shot Put final, 1:50 p.m.

Basketball

Olympic Park-Basketball Arena

Men

Australia vs. Russia, 4 a.m.

Tunisia vs. Lithuania, 6:15 a.m.

France vs. Nigeria, 9:30 a.m.

Britain vs. China, 11:45 a.m.

Spain vs. Brazil, 3 p.m.

Argentina vs. United States, 5:15 p.m.

Beach Volleyball

At Horse Guards Parade

Men’s quarterfinals (2 matches), 1 p.m.

Men’s quarterfinals (2 matches), 5 p.m.

Boxing

At ExCeL

Women’s Flyweight (51kg); Women’s Lightweight (60kg) and Women’s Middleweight (75kg) quarterfinals, 8:30 a.m.

Men’s Lightweight (60kg); Men’s Middleweight (75kg) and Men’s Super Heavyweight (+91kg) quarterfinals, 3:30 p.m.

Canoe (Sprint)

At Eton Dorney, Buckinghamshire

Men’s Canoe Single 1000 heats, semifinals; Men’s Kayak Single 1000 heats, semifinals; Men’s Kayak Double 1000 heats, semifinal; Women’s Kayak Four 500 heats, semifinal, 4:30 a.m.

Cycling (Track)

At Olympic Park-Velodrome

Men’s Sprint semifinals, finals; Women’s Omnium: flying lap, 20km points race, elimination race; Women’s Sprint quarterfinals, race for 5th-8th places, 11 a.m.

Diving

At Olympic Park-Aquatics Centre

Men’s 3-Meter Springboard Prelims, 2 p.m.

Equestrian (Jumping)

At Greenwich Park

Team Jumping: round 2, (medal), 9 a.m.

Field Hockey

Women

At Olympic Park-Hockey Centre

New Zealand vs. Germany, 3:30 a.m.

United States vs. South Africa, 5:45 a.m.

Japan vs. China, 8:45 a.m.

South Korea vs. Belgium, 11 a.m.

Britain vs. Netherlands, 2 p.m.

Argentina vs. Australia, 4:15 p.m.

Gymnastics

At Artistic North Greenwich Arena

Men’s Rings final; Men’s Vault final; Women’s Uneven Bars final, 9 a.m.

Sailing

At Weymouth and Portland, Dorset

Men’s 49er, 470, Laser (medal race); Women’s 470, Laser Radial (medal race), 7 a.m.

Shooting

At The Royal Artillery Barracks

Men’s 50-meter Rifle 3 Positions qualification and final; Men’s Trap qualification (Day 2) and final, 4 a.m.

Soccer

Women

At Wembley Stadium

Semifinal, Noon

At Old Trafford, Manchester

Semifinal, 2:45 p.m.

Synchronized Swimming

At Olympic Park-Aquatics Centre

Women’s Duets free routine, 10 a.m.

Table Tennis

At ExCeL

Women’s Team semifinal, 5 a.m.

Men’s Team semifinal, 9:30 a.m.

Men’s Team semifinal, 2 p.m.

Team Handball

Men

At Copper Box

Hungary vs. Serbia, 4:30 a.m.

Argentina vs. Tunisia, 6:15 a.m.

Denmark vs. South Korea, 9:30 a.m.

Iceland vs. Britain, 11:15 a.m.

Spain vs. Croatia, 2:30 p.m.

France vs. Sweden, 4:15 p.m.

Volleyball

Men

At Earls Court

Australia vs. Poland, 4:30 a.m.

Russia vs. Serbia, 6:30 a.m.

Italy vs. Bulgaria, 9:45 a.m.

Britain vs. Argentina, 11:45 a.m.

United States vs. Tunisia, 3 p.m.

Brazil vs. Germany, 5 p.m.

Water Polo

Men

At Olympic Park-Water Polo Arena

Kazakhstan vs. Croatia, 5 a.m.

Greece vs. Australia, 6:20 a.m.

Romania vs. Serbia, 9:10 a.m.

Hungary vs. United States, 10:30 a.m.

Britain vs. Montenegro, 1:20 p.m.

Spain vs. Italy, 2:40 p.m.

Weightlifting

At ExCeL

Men’s 105kg group B, 10:30 a.m.

Men’s 105kg group A (medal), 2 p.m.

Wrestling (Greco-Roman)

At ExCeL

Men’s 60kg, 84kg and 120kg qualifications, 1/8 finals, quarterfinals, semifinals, 8 a.m.

Men’s 60kg, 84kg and 120kg repechage rounds, bronze and gold medal contests, 12:45 p.m.

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