Dreams of Gold Evaporate for U.S. in Loss to Russia

ATHENS — A U.S. team thrown together a month ago in the absence of NBA players wasted a 10-point lead in the final three minutes, losing, 66-64, to Russia on Saturday in the semifinals of the World Championships.

Russia, with essentially the same team that was crushed by Dream Team II in the championship game in 1994, was led by Sergey Babkov, who scored 30 points. Sergey Panov dribbled the length of the court and scored on a layup with four seconds remaining.

The Russians will play Yugoslavia, the European champion and 1996 Olympic silver medalist, for the title today. Yugoslavia beat Greece, 78-73, in the other semifinal.

The loss means the Americans, who play Greece for the bronze, will not qualify automatically for the 2000 Olympics. The world champion gets an automatic berth, as does the host country, Australia.