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BARCELONA, Spain -- Madrid awaits. Spain doesnt. The gold-medal matchup seemingly everyone wanted in the Basketball World Cup -- maybe even some U.S. players -- wont be happening. The Spanish were upset in the quarterfinals, ending the predicted No. 1 vs. No. 2 game Sunday on Spains home court. "I think thats one of the reasons why we came over here, was to play them," U.S. guard Derrick Rose said. "Too bad were not playing them and hopefully we go out there in our next game and play hard and just know that were there for a reason." The Americans held up their end, moving within a victory of repeating as world champions for the first time with a 96-68 victory over Lithuania on Thursday night. James Harden scored all of his 16 points in the lopsided third quarter of a near carbon copy of the Americans quarterfinal victory over Slovenia, when he awoke from a scoreless first half to help turn a close game into a blowout. The Americans will face France or Serbia, believing either could provide the test that was expected from Spain. "Obviously theyre playing there for a reason," Harden said. "Were not going to take anyone lightly, which we havent thus far." They will arrive as even heavier favourites after Spains stunning loss to France on Wednesday. With their veteran experience and near misses against the U.S. in the last two Olympic gold-medal games, the Spanish were considered the team with the best chance -- perhaps the only one -- to beat the Americans. Harden was told that forward Kenneth Faried said hed wanted to play Spain. "Kenneths crazy," Harden said. Some U.S. players watched the game Wednesday, while others learned the result afterward. Talk of a U.S.-Spain final had lasted as long as the tournament, and though the Americans tried to ignore it, guard Stephen Curry acknowledged that was impossible. "I dont think were disappointed, or wished we played a certain team," Curry said. "Were happy to take care of our business." Their opponent will have to show it can hang with the Americans for more than a half, which nobody in Barcelona did. This one was an eight-point game at the break before the U.S. made 14 of 19 shots in the third quarter and outscored Lithuania 33-14. Kyrie Irving had 18 points and Klay Thompson added 16 for the Americans in a rematch of the 2010 world basketball championship semifinals, also played on Sept. 11, the date of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001. Kevin Durant scored a U.S.-record 38 points in that one, an 89-74 victory. That was a rare comfortable margin in this series where close games have been the norm. That includes the 2012 Olympics, where the Americans 99-94 win was their tightest in London. The physical play nearly turned ugly when DeMarcus Cousins reacted angrily after appearing to be elbowed in the neck by centre Jonas Valanciunas of the Toronto Raptors while battling for a rebound. He wound up as if he were going to punch Valanciunas in the back of the head, drawing a technical foul. The Americans then threw the knockout blow, coming out of the locker room with an 18-2 run -- emphasis on run, because they turned this semifinal game into a fast-break drill. That got Harden going. He had the first basket and a 3-pointer to cap a 10-0 start that made it 53-35 in less than 2 minutes. Anthony Davis slammed down a lob from Irving to make it 61-37. "Maybe we let them go," Valanciunas said. "They were really good in the third quarter." Valanciunas and Mindaugas Kuzminskas each scored 15 points for Lithuania, which will play Saturday for a chance at its second straight world bronze. Authentic Shaquille O’Neal Jersey . -- The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will forever be tied together for making the same spectacular misjudgment on budding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin. Authentic George Hill Jersey .Y. - Major League Soccer is prepared to start its season this weekend even if there isnt a labour deal with its referees and other on-field officials. http://www.cheapcavaliersauthenticjerseys.com/ .com) - James Harden put the Houston Rockets on his back and willed them to an overtime victory on Thursday. Cheap Nike Cavaliers Jerseys . Espanyol midfielder Sanchez intercepted Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizozs clearance and, having spotted a gap, risked using his less-favoured left foot to fire a beautifully precise long-range shot that bounced in from high up the near post in the 24th minute. Wholesale Cavaliers Jerseys . Not sure yet. #livetweetingthegreatuntangle — Strombone (@strombone1) April 17, 2014 Stage three, coping: I feel like I could use a cigarette or something.SAO PAULO - Paolo Lorenzi of Italy reached his first ATP semifinal by upsetting fourth-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 6-4 at the Brazil Open on Friday. The 114th-ranked Lorenzi broke Monacos serve to go up 4-3 in the decisive set and held on to close the match in 2 hours, 34 minutes at the Ibirapuera Arena. The 32-year-old Italian squandered a match point before losing the second set, but was in control in the third to pick up the win in the ATP 250 tournament in South Americas biggest city. Lorenzi, who had 12 aces, made it to the semis for the first time after five quarterfinal losses in his career. "Im very happy to finally breakthrough to the semifinals," Lorenzi said. "Ive had a lot of opportunities before but was never able to come up with the victory at this stage. For sure this is one of my greatest weeks on the tour." The 43rd-ranked Monaco, a former top 10 in the world, was trying to win his 200th clay-court match. He is the fifth-greatest winner in the surface, behind Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro.dddddddddddd. Monaco had a set point in the first set but couldnt capitalize on it. "It was a very close match, he had his chances in the first set and I had mine in the second, it was very difficult," Lorenzi said. The Italian will play either top-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany or Horacio Zeballos of Argentina, who play their quarterfinal match later Friday. In the other quarterfinal Friday, Federico Delbonis of Argentina easily beat Alberto Montanes of Spain 6-4, 6-3 in just over an hour. He will play either home-crowd favourite Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil or Martin Klizan of Slovakia. The 61st-ranked Delbonis had upset three-time Brazil Open champion Almagro in the second round. Defending champion Rafael Nadal is not playing at the clay-court tournament this year. 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