Olympics roundup: Damian Lillard scores 8 as USA basketball routs Czech Republic, advances to quarterfinals

United States’s Damian Lillard (6) steals the ball from Czech Republic’s Martin Peterka (15) during a men’s basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. | Eric Gay, Associated Press

Former Weber State star Damian Lillard scored eight points in USA basketball’s 119-84 win over the Czech Republic.

The United States’ win improves its record to 2-1, good enough to move on to the quarterfinal round. Quarterfinal play starts on Tuesday.

At halftime, the USA led 47-36, but blew the game open in the second half, outscoring the Czech Republic 72-41.

Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant were the stars, scoring 27 and 23 points, respectively.

Lillard had three rebounds, three assists and a steal to go along with his eight points.

Eddy Alvarez, USA baseball advance to knockout stage

Former Salt Lake Community College baseball player Eddy Alvarez and USA baseball beat South Korea 4-2 to advance to the knockout stage.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a single while playing second base for the United States.

The USA’s Tristan Casas hit a two-run home run that scored Alvarez, who was hit by a pitch, to take the lead in the fourth inning.

The USA went 2-0 in the group stage and will play Japan in the double-elimination knockout stage on Monday.

Joe Ingles, Australia improve to 3-0, advance to quarterfinals

Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles and Australia improved to 3-0 and advance to the quarterfinals with an 89-76 win over Germany.

Ingles scored six points and had five rebounds, three assists and three steals in the victory. Former Jazzman Dante Exum scored eight points for Australia, which was paced by Patty Mills’ 24 points.

Miye Oni, Nigeria bounced from Olympics

Utah Jazz guard Miye Oni scored three points as Nigeria lost 80-71 to Italy, dropping the Nigerian’s record to 0-3, which means they will not advance to the quarterfinals.

Oni had two assists, a rebound and a blocked shot in the loss

Nico Mannion, son of former Utah Utes and Utah Jazz basketball player Pace Mannion, had 14 points for Italy.

Up Next

7/31, 7 p.m. MDT: Kim (Smith) Gaucher (Team Canada, former Utah women’s basketball player), women’s basketball vs. Spain.

8/1, 2:52 a.m. MDT, MyKayla Skinner (Team USA, former Utah gymnast), women’s gymnastics vault final.

8/1, 6:45 a.m.. MDT: Taylor Sander (Team USA, former BYU volleyball player), men’s volleyball vs. Argentina.

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