RIO DE JANEIRO -- No gold, no glory.Thats the way it is for the U.S. mens basketball team. The Americans, the standard in the sport since winning their first 63 games after it debuted 80 years ago in the Olympics, are either winners or failures.There is no celebrating silver.When they say adeus to Rio, it can be with only one thing around their necks to deem the games a success.Thats what we came here for and we dont want to leave with anything less than the gold medal, forward Carmelo Anthony said.Anthony and the Americans will be playing for their third in a row Sunday when they face Serbia, a team of heroes back home no matter what the scoreboard says after 40 minutes.They have restored the pride of a basketball-crazed country, already secured their first medal since becoming an independent nation in 2006. And as they whooped it up following their 87-61 semifinal rout of Australia on Friday, it was easy to think the Serbs work was already finished.Their coach wont let them.I know just two ways, Sasha Djordjevic said during his postgame press conference. You just play basketball or you just play basketball to win. You guys dont know me, but my answer is B.Yet the Serbs delivered a happy-to-be-here performance last time they had a crack at the mighty Americans for a championship.They teams met in 2014 in Madrid in the Basketball World Cup final and the Americans romped to a 129-92 victory, finishing a tournament where they won by 33 points per game.Two years ago in Spain we get into the game not mentally ready, Serbia captain Milos Teodosic said. We were too much happy that we reached the final and we had that experience and we cannot allow that to repeat.The U.S. isnt expecting it.These Olympics have been way too tough to believe they will end easily. This U.S. team, less talented and experienced then the last two gold medalists, has already had four games decided by 10 points or less, including its 82-76 victory over Spain in the semifinals.The close calls didnt play well back home, where winning big in basketball is the American way. But they were just what this team needed to get ready for its golden opportunity.Its made this journey a little sweeter now that were in the gold-medal game, star forward Kevin Durant said. Now we hit our stride against Argentina and then we came back defensively against Spain and played a good game. We need one more game to keep it up and well be fine.Djordjevic played for Yugoslavia back when Vlade Divac, Toni Kukoc and teammates were a basketball power, too big, strong and savvy for the college players the Americans were sending. Yugoslavia beat the U.S. -- coached by Mike Krzyzewski -- in the semifinals of the 1990 world basketball championship, the last major tournament for the Americans before NBA players arrived with the Dream Team in 1992.That ushered in an era of American dominance that seemed to be returning. The Americans rolled into Rio de Janeiro unbeaten in 10 years, such an overwhelming favorite that Djordjevic predicted early in the tournament that it would be a long way to go before somebody beat the Americans.Then his team nearly did it last week.The Serbs provided the toughest in a string of tough games for the Americans, the U.S. winning 94-91 when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.Serbia came within a whisker of beating us in our pool play, so we absolutely respect them, Krzyzewski said. We know how good they are.Krzyzewski will be coaching his final game for the U.S., set to be replaced by Gregg Popovich after Rio. He can break a tie with Henry Iba, who led the Americans to two gold medals but was their coach in 1972 when they lost to the Soviet Union in the gold-medal game.Coach K has led the Americans back to the top.They need one more win so he can leave with them there.When the stakes are the highest is when we all play the best and there wont be any higher than on Sunday, guard Klay Thompson said. Expect a great effort from all of us.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Kepa Arrizabalaga Chelsea Jersey . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. Kepa Arrizabalaga Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Cesc-Fabregas-Jersey/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. Marcos Alonso Jersey . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. NGolo Kante Jersey . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. MINNEAPOLIS -- Cole Aldrich was vacationing with his wife in Italy when a lifelong dream came to fruition.He had sealed a deal to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team he grew up watching in suburban Minneapolis. Because of the time difference, a giddy Aldrich decided to send his father a text message rather than give him a call.I think I said, `Dad, Im coming home, Aldrich recalled on Thursday.The message did not quite have the effect he had planned on.I thought you were coming home from vacation! Walter Aldrich hollered from the back of the room.Alas, Aldrich meant he was coming home for good. To play basketball for the Timberwolves, to live in the home he returns to every offseason after spending the first six seasons of his NBA career bouncing around with five other teams.Ive been a Timberwolves fan all my life, Cole Aldrich said. Whether it was in another city playing for New York or Oklahoma City or wherever, I always tried to keep tabs. And you root for your city. For me to be home, Im going to go out there and play hard. Im not going to guarantee a championship or anything like LeBron, but just Im going to try to do all I can to help us win games.Aldrich was a high school standout at Bloomington Jefferson in suburban Minneapolis before going on to win a national championship at Kansas. The 7-foot center was the 11th overall pick by Oklahoma City in 2010, but had a hard time finding footing in the league while starting his career with a team that had quickly emerged as a Western Conference power.Most lottery picks you go to a team thats struggling and you usually get your opportunity right away, he said. For me, the opportunity really didnt come until probably four years into the league. Through that transition you just havee to grit your way through it.ddddddddddddHe spent two years in OKC and also played for Houston, Sacramento and New York before delivering his best season as a pro with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015-16. He emerged as a productive and efficient backup to DeAndre Jordan, and new Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau went after him in free agency to provide some much-needed depth behind big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng.Aldrich got a three-year, $22 million contract from the Wolves, but he doesnt expect the money to change him.Ive been wealthy my whole life. Great family, friends. Thats what its all about, Aldrich said.He said he had talks about joining Thibodeau in Chicago with the Bulls a few years back and feels uniquely suited to play for a coach who values toughness and defense. Aldrich pointed to a scar over his left eyebrow and then popped out his fake front tooth to serve as his credentials.As you can tell, Ive got a few scars and Ive got a missing tooth, he said with a smile. It kind of fits the groove. Just exciting to play for him and the organization is going to be a really good few years.Aldrich was a freshman in high school when Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. The Wolves havent been back to the playoffs since, and the hometown kid wants desperately to be a part of the team that breaks that dubious streak.I remember the atmosphere and the excitement, he said. Being in the playoffs this last year and my first few years, just seeing those crowds and knowing what our city would be (like) to have that crowd would be awesome. ' ' '