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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Three wins from gold, and still no reason to think it will be easy for the U.S. mens basketball team.This is a bumpy road in Rio, but at least the Americans know Klay Thompson is finally along for the ride.Thompson ended an Olympic-long slump with seven 3-pointers and 30 points, and the Americans needed almost all of them to hold off France 100-97 on Sunday.The U.S. won its 50th straight tournament game, but the last three have been nothing like most of the previous 47.Weve obviously had three close games in a row by our standards, forward Kevin Durant said. A win is a win. Weve got to think about how we can be better but we cant be satisfied.Winning by three for the second consecutive game, the U.S. improved to 5-0 and clinched first place in Group A. The Americans open quarterfinal play Wednesday, still the favorite but looking as beatable as ever under Mike Krzyzewski.Their opponents couldnt be determined until the completion of play Monday in the log-jammed Group B, where all six teams are still alive. The U.S. will play whichever team finishes fourth.This isnt a tournament that were going to just dominate, U.S. guard Paul George said. Theres talent around this world and theyre showcasing it. For us, its just figuring out how were going to win. Were having spurts of dominating, but were just not finding ways to put a full 40 minutes together.Nando de Colo and Thomas Heurtel each scored 18 points, carrying France while Tony Parker sat with a toe injury. Every time the Americans built a big lead, the fifth-ranked French chipped away.You cant panic against this team, France forward Nicolas Batum said. Weve been together for a while. Weve been in those games down 15 and have to find a way to come back. Weve got guys experienced, Boris (Diaw) and Tony, myself and De Colo have been with this team for 8-10 years, too.Durant scored 17 points after he took just four shots in the previous game, the Americans 94-91 victory over Serbia on Friday.After pounding China and Venezuela to open the Olympics, the Americans pulled away late to beat Australia 98-88 before edging the Serbs when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.The Americans could never put away the French in this one, even with Thompson having his first good performance in Rio de Janeiro.Banished to the bench earlier in the tournament, he rejoined the starting lineup Sunday and came out firing -- and this time, making. He entered with just 11 points on 4-for-26 shooting in the first four games.He hit five 3-pointers in the third quarter alone, the last making the lead seem safe at 78-62. But the French were back within four by midway through the fourth before Kyrie Irving threw a falling-down lob pass that Durant slammed down on the fast break.We were up 16 with two minutes left in the third and that was our time to put the game away, Thompson said. We have to learn from it. You cant let up against an explosive team like France.Even a France team missing Parker, the four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who had been limited to about 20-25 minutes per game here. Hes been getting back into game shape after missing time during their training when his wife gave birth to their second son last month.This time he didnt play at all because of a toe injury.Hes fine. Hes resting, said French coach Vincent Collet, who also de Colo out in the final minutes after he banged his leg.Parker was hardly missed because de Colo and Heurtel kept carving up a U.S. defense that was expected to be the teams strength but has been vulnerable against the crafty international offenses.Luckily for the Americans, this time they could count on offense from Thompson to get them through.One of the worlds best shooters had been bafflingly bad, missing 13 of his 16 3-point attempts in Rio. Krzyzewski seemed committed to getting him on track in this one and it worked.He had back-to-back 3s midway through the third and the Golden State All-Star looked like a Salpico -- thats Portuguese for Splash -- Brother again with three more in a 2-minute span later in the period.It felt good to see the ball go in, Im not going to lie, but it felt better to get the win, Thompson said. I dont care if I shoot 10 percent the rest of the tournament, if we win the gold medal thats all that really matters. But its something I can build off and it helps.The way things are going, the Americans will take all the help they can get.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Custom Los Angeles Angels Jerseys . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Justin Upton Jersey . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/j-c-ramirez-angels-jersey/ . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Nolan Ryan Angels Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Trevor Cahill Angels Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. WASHINGTON -- Catcher Jose Lobaton and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year contract for 2017, avoiding arbitration.The Nationals announced the agreement on Twitter on Thursday.Lobaton hit .232 in 99 at-bats during the regular season as a backup to Wilson Ramos.But Ramos was injured in September, allowing Lobaton to get a chance at a more prominent role in the playoffs. He wound up getting two hits in nine at-bats in Washingtons five-game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in their NL Division Series, including a three-run homer in a Game 2 victory for the Nationals.ddddddddddddThe 32-year-old Lobaton has played seven seasons in the majors, the last three with Washington. ' ' '