After scoring 48 points in Slovenia’s first Olympic basketball game, Doncic’s efficient effort paced his medal-chasing nation in its second straight victory.
The decorated pool star earned his second gold medal of the Tokyo Games, the first coming in the men’s 4x100 freestyle relay.
The American superstar’s decision came a day before the high-profile event at Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
Shiga Prefecture’s aquatic sensation won the down-to-the-wire race, while Tomoru Honda claimed the silver medal in the men’s 200-meter butterfly.
Unseeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova outplayed the world No. 2 and earned a big upset victory.
Spain outscored Japan 30-14 in the second quarter to build a commanding lead en route to victory in the teams’ opening Group C game.
The four-time Grand Slam singles champion built a 5-0 lead in the first set and maintained a consistent level of play throughout the first-round match.
The first-time Olympian picked up the pace as the race progressed and held off two American challengers down the stretch.
“This is a message of hope,” said IOC boss Thomas Bach. “Yes, it’s very different from what all of us imagined. But let us cherish this...
Plus, who’s going to light the Olympic cauldron to officially usher in the Tokyo Games? And, Brisbane is awarded the 2032 Summer Games.
After competing at the 2014 Sochi Games as a speedskater, Alvarez became a pro baseball player and later earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
There was synergy in their collective efforts and a competitive seriousness on the faces of Japan’s players from start to finish at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium.