USA Men’s National Team Builds Momentum For Olympics With Five Convincing Victories During Five-Game Exhibition Tour
men’s national team trained for 23 days and played five international exhibition games in advance of its debut in the 2012 London Olympics. The Americans captured five
O
wins by an average margin of 26.6 points a game. Since filling its USA National
Team rosters with NBA stars in 1992, USA Basketball national teams have now compiled a 42-1 mark in exhibition games, including 20 victories in a row.
USA 113, Dominican Republic 59
Much to the delight of the sold-
out crowd of 18,499 fans at Thomas & Mack Arena at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev., the 2012 USA National Team put on a dazzling display during its 113-59 exhibition win over Dominican Republic on July 12. Including 5-for-5 shooting from
3-point in the first 15 minutes of the game, Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) led the USA with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers) was named the Tiffany & Co. Player of Game after contributing 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Both players came off of the bench for USA. “We were really pleased with our
Andre Iguodala opened the USA’s exhibition tour with 18 points in the win over Dominican Republic and earned Tiffany & Co. Player of the Game honors.
and we got a lot of minutes for everybody tonight.” Carmelo Anthony (New York
effort,” said Mike Krzyzewski, USA and Duke University head coach. “There have been a lot of distractions, not Vegas distractions, but contract, injury, different situations during these first eight days. “Overall one of the things we
wanted to accomplish here was to develop good camaraderie. Guys seemed to get along really well. They pull for each other and they play hard. Now we have to translate that into an effective system both offensively and defensively, and they have to get to know one another and we have to get to know them in this context. I was pleased with the unselfish- ness of our team, the defensive intensity, the fact that we really shared the ball,
36
Knicks), with 13 points, and James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder), with 11 points, also scored in double-digits, while Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets) dished out 10 assists. Overall, the USA recorded 27 assists on its 42 baskets. “I have to give a shout to my team-
mates,” Durant said. “They did a great job of finding me. Everything felt like it was in rhythm. I was stepping into the shot. LeBron’s a great passer, D-Will (Deron Williams) had 10 assists, he’s a great passer. Everyone was passing the ball well tonight. We had 27 assists, so if we can do that as a team, we’ll be fine.” The USA broke the game open early in the first quarter with an 13-0 run that
pening its 2012 training camp on July 5 in Las Vegas, Nev., the USA
began with two points from Anthony at 6:44 and included two 3-pointers from Durant. The Dominican Republic’s
Al Horford interrupted the onslaught with two free throws at 3:34, but the USA responded with three more 3-pointers, one from Durant and two from Iguodala, to take a 26-12 lead at the first break. Shooting 39.4 percent from
deep overall (13-33 3-pt FGs), the USA sank four more 3-pointers in the second period to help extend its lead to 50-27 at halftime. The USA was fast and furious
in the third quarter, doubling up the score 70-35 after an alley-oop from Williams to Durant at 3:35 was followed by a basket from Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks) at 3:04. With 10 minutes remaining in the game, the USA had built a 79-41 advantage. Anthony Davis (New Orleans
Hornets), who was added to the USA National Team roster the day of the game after an injury forced Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers) to miss the game, finished with nine points, including a 4-point play with just 32 seconds remaining in the game, and his made free throw gave the USA its
largest lead of the night, 113-59, to end the exhibition contest. Overpowering its opponent with size
and speed, the USA recorded 42 points in the paint compared to Dominican’s 16, and the USA won the battle on the boards, 42-32.
USA 80, Brazil 69 With President Barack Obama
among the sellout crowd of 20,390 fans at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., the USA battled Brazil for nearly all 40 minutes before capturing an 80-69 win on July 16. Thirty points from LeBron James
(Miami Heat) led the USA, which was plagued by 38.5 percent shooting in the first half, including 1-of-12 from 3-point.
USA Basketball News
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
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