NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the games in Sydney, where competition is winding down and heating up. An almost upset victim today, the U.S. Dream Team, which came within seconds and inches of losing to Lithuania. With his take on the game, here's CNN Sports Illustrated's Nick Charles.</s>NICK CHARLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The United States men's basketball team was having its way with Lithuania. But instead of going down the drain, the underdog struck back like a tidal wave. Suddenly, the unbelievable was happening. It was the Dream Team that was now drawning. Then, after a war of nerves and a pitched battle to the end, the Americans reached out in the night, clutched a life boat and somehow escaped.</s>ANTONIO MCDUIESS, U.S. OLYMPIC DREAM TEAM: Scared wasn't the word. It was very scary for me. I would never expect us to be just winning by only a two-point margin. But it was scary, I mean, but we pulled it out, no matter how to win, where we got the win on that.</s>JONAS KAZLAUSKAS, LITHUANIAN HEAD COACH: We would have liked to be first who can beat this team. But after game, I talked to guys only, OK guys, maybe next time.</s>CHARLES: Coming up next, the gold medal game against France on Sunday. Will the Americans find their compsure in that one? Or better for the Dream Team, will they take out their fury on the French? We know this: Based on what happened here in the semifinals, the rest of the world isn't just rolling over on the court every time they see red, white and blue anymore. In Sydney, Australia, I'm Nick Charles.
Sydney Games 2000: U.S. Dream Team Avoids Upset, Edges Lithuania