OLYM - USA made to sweat it out, France and Argentina through

LONDON (Olympics) - The USA faced adversity for the first time in the Olympic Basketball Tournament for Men, while France and Argentina booked their places in the Quarter-Finals with wins against Tunisia and Nigeria respectively.

The Americans came up against their toughest challenge yet as Lithuania pushed them all the way. The defending champions came into the game hot off their record-breaking win over Nigeria on Thursday.

But the Lithuanians proved a stern test, shooting well from long and short range and giving little space in the paint.

Lithuania squared the game in the third quarter with 3:06 on the clock thanks to a huge Paulius Jankunas dunk off a bad turnover from Carmelo Anthony on a thee on one break.

The USA had shot exceptionally well against Nigeria, something they weren't able to replicate on Saturday, with their three-point percentage dropping from 63% to just 30%.

Lithuania's offense was also slicker than anything the Americans had seen in the tournament so far.

"They were quick as a unit, they played as one seamlessly. I thought their veterans led the way," said USA coach Mike Krzyzewski.

"We had to make big plays to win."

Two such plays came in the fourth quarter when LeBron James (20 points) followed up an inch-perfect three-pointer with a powerful drive into a crowded low-post and shot a sumptuous floater to carry the USA home to a 99-94 victory.

France finished their game against Tunisia only four points ahead, 73-69. They gave themselves a late scare as a 20-point lead just before the end of the third quarter evaporated.

Vincent Collet spread the minutes, something he himself questioned in retrospect.

"They made it tough for us," he said.

"Perhaps I opened the bench too early and this gave Tunisia a chance to come back."

Tunisian-based Mohamed Hadidane (20 points in 14 minutes) produced one of the best quarters of basketball of any player in this tournament as he lead the fight-back with 15 points in the last frame.

"We changed our defence a lot, we put pressure on France for the last minutes," Tunisia's head coach Adel Tlatli said after the game.

"We only played international level in 2010 at the (FIBA) World Championship so we are improving."

Nicolas Batum (19 points, 8 rebounds) and Tony Parker (22 pts) were yet again France's two most potent weapons as France held on for a 73-69 win confirming their place in the Quarter-Finals.

After facing the 2008 Olympic champions, Nigeria had the heavy task of facing the 2004 gold medallists.

Missing influential playmaker Ade Dagunduro, they also lost their other starting guard Tony Skinn early on.

It was the first 10 minutes that cost the Nigerians the game.

"You can't let an team with NBA All-Stars come out with a 20 (it was actually 18) point lead from the first quarter," said Olumide Oyedeji.

"We had a terrible first quarter. When you consider the last two, we won those quarters"

Luis Scola was disappointed in spite of the win.

"It may seem like this game was better than Tunisia because we started better, but it is the opposite.

"Tonight we only played well for one quarter."

Scola, Manu Ginobili, Carlos Delfino and Andres Nocioni combined for 70 points.

FIBA