Seven points from Anthony and six
from James over the period’s last 5:37 helped the red, white and blue outscore GB by 16 points in the third, and the scoreboard read 89-55 headed into the final 10 minutes. “The chemistry is getting better
and better with each game and each practice,” James said. “We are taking full advantage of every opportunity we get together. ” The highlight reel continued in
the fourth quarter, including three of Davis’ four blocks and three alley- oop passes from Westbrook – one of which was slammed home on a reverse dunk by Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves) that brought the crowd and the U.S. bench to their feet. Great Britain made five 3-point-
ers down the stretch to help prevent the contest from getting totally out of control, but when the buzzer sounded the USA had its largest win of the 2012 tour, a 118-78 blowout. After struggling from the field in
its first two exhibition wins, the USA shot 60.0 percent against Great Britain (47-78 FGs) and was dominant inside, tallying 64 points in the paint to GB’s 18, while racing to 34 fast-break points and 33 points off of turnovers. The USA’s depth was another problem for Great Britain as the USA’s bench accounted for more than half of its points at 65.
USA 88, Argentina 80 Twenty years after the 1992 USA
Basketball Dream Team made its indeli- ble impact on international basketball at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the Amercians, wearing 1992 USA Basketball throwback jerseys, returned to the hardwood in Barcelona and battled to a hard fought 86-80 win over Argentina. Durant drained 7-of-11 3-pointers to finish with a game high 27 points in the win.
“We started off pretty well, got a
couple of shots. Argentina did a great job of slowing the game down, making the right passes and penetrating and executing. So, it was a good game for us. We learned a lot tonight. We just have to keep getting better for the Olympics and our guys did a good job of playing
38
Deron Williams connected on 5-of-6 3-pointers to tally 19 points and assist the USA to a 118-78 win over Great Britain.
“It was a great game for us because
we played against champions. The Argentine team played like champions for over a decade and to play in a game like this, I thought it was really our first international game. I thought our guys did a great job at the start of each half,” said Mike Krzyzewski, USA and Duke University head coach. “I thought Kevin was sensational
tonight against man and zone. He looked like he did in Istanbul tonight.” added Krzyzewski about Durant, who earned MVP honors in leading the USA to gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey. In a preview of the Aug. 6 USA-
Argentina Olympics preliminary round game, the U.S. dominated Argentina early then turned back each Argentina comeback attempt. Durant gave an indication of things
to come when he dropped back-to-back 3-pointers on the USA first two possessions, and after Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) scored with 8:46 still to
through everything, playing hard, play- ing together,” said Durant, the Tiffany & Co. Player of the Game.
play in the quarter, the Americans were off to a flying 8-0 start. Argentina’s Luis Scola made one of
two free throws to get Argentina on the board, but the U.S. threatened to make a rout of the game after Bryant and Durant each added 3-pointers and Bryant converted off a fast break to push the USA advantage to 16-1. A Bryant 3-pointer, the USA’s
fifth of the game’s first 3:15, made the score 19-3. Argentina reeled off six consecutive
points to cut the deficit to 19-9 with 3:30 remaining in the opening quarter, and with 46 seconds to play in the period the USA led 25-14. Anthony got in on the 3-point
parade with a three with 38 seconds left before the horn, and when Williams hit nothing but net from beyond the 3-point arc as the first quarter buzzer sounded, the Americans had control 31-16. The U.S. continued to have its way
and following four points from Bryant, two free throws and a hoop off a drive, the USA lead was up to 20, 39-19, with 6:56 remaining before half. Argentina climbed back into the
game with a 10-0 run to cut the USA lead to 39-29. James stopped the run, but
Argentina kept chipping away and following a 3-pointer from Leo Gutierrez, the American advantage was down to five, 45-40. Westbrook cushioned the U.S. lead
to seven, 47-40, when he scored off an Iguodala block and fast break feed with just two seconds to go in the first half. A Durant jumper, a Bryant 3-pointer,
and a James basket got the USA off to a good third quarter start and upped the lead to 54-40. Ahead 61-49, the USA ripped off
eight straight points including another three from Durant, and the lead was back to 20 points, 69-49, with 3:01 left in the third.
Argentina again rallied and after
outscoring the U.S. 12-3 to close out the third quarter, the USA’s lead stood at 72-61 heading into the final period. With the USA leading 78-63 early in
the fourth, Argentina got eight points from NBA All-Star Manu Ginobili in a 11-0 run which saw Argentina close to within four points, 78-74, with 2:50 left
USA Basketball News
Stu Forster / Getty Images
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