APPLICATION » four receptions for 104 yards to become the first ro

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The trip wasnt always easy, though they arrived at their expected destination.The players on the U.S. Olympic mens basketball team never doubted they would be standing on the gold-medal platform, even after some close calls in Rio and criticisms they lacked the usual big names and bigger wins.I know there was kind of a lot of buzz around us not playing well a couple of games, two, three games in the early round, Carmelo Anthony said, but the way that we locked in and the way that we focused in to be able to have this gold medal around our necks was special.Saving their best for last in a tournament that had been tough, the Americans convincingly won their third straight gold medal, beating Serbia 96-66 on Sunday.We came here and despite what people are saying about this group, being less talented and not blowing teams out, we did a good job of bottling all that up and unleashed it on Serbia, forward Paul George said.Kevin Durant scored 30 points in the final game with the national team for Mike Krzyzewski, who took the Americans back to the top and leaves with them there after becoming the first coach to win three Olympic gold medals.To go home as gold medalists and leave Coach K off with another gold was one of our main goals as well, Durant said.Anthony also picked up his third gold to go with a bronze, becoming the most decorated male in Olympic basketball history.The U.S. beat Serbia by just 94-91 in pool play, holding on when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. This rematch looked nothing like that meeting, but it did resemble the final of the 2014 Basketball World Cup, which the Americans won 129-92.To come out there and play as well as we did against a team that had stepped up their play as well, it showed that we came together at the right time, Durant said.Anthony checked back into the rout in the final minutes so he could grab a seventh rebound, passing David Robinson for U.S. record with the 125th in his Olympic career. He had already become the leading scorer earlier in the tournament, capping an Olympic career that began with disappointment as a member of the U.S. team that finished third in 2004.The Americans havent lost since, winning 25 straight in the Olympics.A few of the victories were more difficult than usual in this tournament, where half the Americans eight games were decided by 10 points or fewer.Krzyzewski said it didnt matter how the Americans won, that there would be no questions as long as they did.And there was no doubt they would Sunday once Durant heated up.He had also scored 30 in the 2012 gold-medal game, after he poured in a U.S.-record 38 in one game en route to the MVP of the 2010 world basketball championship. He is already the Americans No. 2 career scorer in the Olympics in just two appearances.When the final horn sounded, the U.S. players shared long hugs with each other and then Krzyzewski.It was a tough ending after an impressive run for Serbia in its first Olympics as an independent nation. The heart of an international power in the former Yugoslavia, the Serbs hadnt qualified for the Olympics since gaining their independence in 2006.They dropped three games in the group stage but had the look of a team that could challenge the Americans after nearly knocking them off earlier in the tournament and overwhelming Australia in the semifinals.They were down just 16-15 before Durant made a 3-pointer for the final points of the first quarter, and before they knew it he had turned the game into a blowout.They are superstars. If you let them play like they want, they will kill you, guard Stefan Markovic said. Each of their 12 guys can do that.A challenging year for the Americans started long before they boarded the cruise ship they stayed on while in Rio. For the first time since 2004, many top American players opted to skip the Olympics, forcing them to bring some here who wouldnt have been considered otherwise.The 10 Olympic newcomers seemed to be jelling slowly and the U.S. had a pair of three-point victories and came in winning by just 21.4 points per game, more than 10 per game fewer than four years ago and about half the 43.8 the Dream Team won by in 1992.This team kept getting better and even those three games in pool play, we had not played that type of game against that type of level of opponent, Krzyzewski said. We said it was a learning experience and our guys did learn and we put it to good practice.Krzyzewski, an assistant on the Dream Team, has long insisted that international basketball has gotten too strong for anyone to win that easily again.Yet on Sunday, the Americans did.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Wholesale Nike Shoes ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Cheap Nike Zoom From China . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. http://www.cheapshoesnikechina.com/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Sale Nike Shoes . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Cheap Nike Running Shoes From China .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. HOUSTON -- DeAndre Hopkins got Houston going early and defense and special teams did the rest in a 19-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.Hopkins had 113 yards receiving and a touchdown and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to help the Texans to the victory .Novak connected from 32, 24, 31 and 43 yards for the Texans.Cairo Santos made three field goals in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 19-12, but Houston recovered the onside kick with less than a minute left to seal the victory.The Texans (2-0) showed that they are a much different team than the one that was embarrassed in a 30-0 wild-card playoff loss to the Chiefs (1-1) in January, when quarterback Brian Hoyer had five turnovers.New quarterback Brock Osweiler did throw two interceptions but the Chiefs had more trouble taking care of the ball, with Houstons defense setting a franchise record by recovering three fumbles in the first half.Our defense really stood up there and when they had to in critical situations played well, coach Bill OBrien said.The first came when a high snap sailed over Alex Smiths head. J.J. Watt shoved him out of the way with one hand and pounced on it, showing he was getting back to his old self after July back surgery.Osweiler, who finished with 268 yards passing, connected with Hopkins on a 27-yard touchdown pass on the next play to make it 7-0.When your defense makes a big play or your special teams make a big play, on offense you need to take that momentum and finish with a touchdown, Osweiler said. Thats exactly what took place in that moment.Watt continued to shine later in the first quarter when he took Smith down for his first sack this season, forcing the Chiefs to kick a field goal that made it 7-3.Houston was leading by seven in the second quarter when Spencer Ware fumbled, Kevin Johnson scooped it up for his first career recovery and returned it 52 yards. The Texans couldnt get their offense going after that and settled for a 24-yard field goal to make it 13-3.John Simon forced the last fumble of the half on his strip-sack of Smith. It was recovered by Whitney Mercilus. But once again Houston failed to move the ball and Novaks try for a 57-yard field goal fell short as time expired in the first half.We had way too many mistakes today,, coach Andy Reid said.dddddddddddd Too many penalties. Dropped balls. You name it. Turnovers, we had three turnovers. All these things led to points. Thats my responsibility.Marcus Peters intercepted Osweiler at the goal line on Houstons first possession and picked him off again late in the third quarter.That led to a 43-yard field goal that cut the lead to 13-6.A field goal by both teams after that left the Texans up 16-9.FULLER FLOURISHESHouston rookie receiver Will Fuller finished with four receptions for 104 yards to become the first rookie in franchise history with consecutive 100-yard receiving games to start his career. The 21st overall pick in this years draft had 107 yards receiving in his NFL debut last week.INJURY REPORTHouston rookie WR Braxton Miller injured his hamstring in the first half and did not return. He doesnt think the injury is serious, but will have an MRI on Monday.ELITE COMPANYWatt finished with 1.5 sacks on Sunday to give him 76 in his 82nd career game. Hes the second fastest in NFL history to reach 75 sacks behind Hall of Famer Reggie White who did it in 65 games.NO, NO, NOPeters learned that wagging your finger in the face of an opponent like NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo did after blocking a shot is frowned upon on the NFL.Peters forced an incompletion on a deep ball thrown to Fuller in the second quarter and wagged his finger at him for several seconds. The move earned him a 15-yard penalty for taunting and a warning that a second such penalty would result in an ejection.Hes competing against a guy and made a nice play on the ball. Reid said. But you cant wag your finger -- theyre going to get you.SPREADING THE WEALTHHopkins and Fuller gave Houston two players with at least 100 yards receiving for the eighth time in franchise history and the first time since 2013.BRING IT BACKKansas City rookie Tyreek Hill had a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown negated because of a holding penalty late in the fourth quarter.UP NEXTKansas City hosts the Jets next Sunday.Houston travels to meet New England on Thursday night.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '