Russia won its first Olympic basketball medal Sunday after a thrilling final decided in the last minute.
Russia beat 2004 Olympic champion Argentina 81-77, with Minnesota Timberwolves teammates Alexey Shved and Andrei Kirilenko making 25 and 20 points respectively, as well as seven assists for Shved and eight rebounds for Kirilenko.
Argentina led 20-19 at the end of the first quarter, but the match changed when Russia went on a 12-0 streak in the second quarter, the Russians taking a lead they held for the rest of the match, barring a 30-second scare early in the fourth.
Just as in Argentina’ s 109-83 semifinal defeat to the United States, San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili was the South Americans’ top scorer, making 21 points.
The U.S. play Spain later Sunday in the final.
