'Incredible scenes': Boomers thrash Argentina to book semi-final against USA

The Boomers unleashed in a stunning final quarter to obliterate Argentina and set up a semi-final date with Team USA later this week.

Can Patty Mills lead the Aussies to victory?

• The Boomers have set up a date with America in the semi-finals of the Olympics after thrashing Argentina on Tuesday night.

The Boomers have set up a date with America in the semi-finals of the Olympics after thrashing Argentina on Tuesday night.

The Aussies will be sky-high on confidence heading into their toughest match of the tournament against the gold medal favourites after crushing the Argentines 97-59 in their quarter-final.

A stunning fourth quarter saw the Boomers pour in an incredible 20 unanswered points as their lead ran out to 36 with two-and-a-half minutes to go. As jaw-dropping as the team’s offence was, its defence was just as good as it continues to improve every time it steps out onto the court in Tokyo.

That wild point-scoring run in the final quarter became 37-8 as Argentina’s defence disappeared.

“This is an absolute thing of beauty we're seeing from this Australian team,” basketball legend Andrew Gaze said in commentary for Channel 7.

Journalist Brendan Casey tweeted: “Boomers have put on an absolute defensive demolition of Argentina. Incredible scenes. Bring on Team USA!”

Damien Peck added: “This is something else from the Boomers in the way they're finishing this game. Unbelievable.”

The Boomers could do no wrong in the fourth quarter.

Australia was suffering from a case of the shooting yips in an ordinary first quarter but its all-court defence ensured the damage was minimised, only trailing by a few points at the first break.

The tables turned dramatically in the second quarter as Argentina went four-of-18 from the field while Patty Mills and Co. found their groove. The golden boys went on a 14-4 run and it was only a late three-pointer from Argentina that reduced Australia’s lead at the half to six points (39-33).

The Aussies started to press home their advantage in the third quarter. Jock Landale drained a three-pointer to give his side a 10-point lead but it wasn’t until late that our boys really started to crush Argentina’s spirit.

They started the fourth quarter up by 12 before going on that mind-blowing run that booked their spot in the semis against an all-star American outfit.

Mills led the way with 18 points while Matisse Thybulle was a bull on defence all night.

Team USA qualified for the semis by beating Spain 95-81 earlier on Tuesday, while the other semi-final will see Luka Doncic’s Slovenia face France.