Kevin Durant reacts after a three-point shot against China in the men’s preliminary round Group A match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
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United States’ Kyrie Irving (10) grabs a loose ball in front of China’s Zhao Jiwei, rear, during a basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.
RIO DE JANEIRO-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump may fret about the United States’ trade imbalance with China but on the basketball court it is all one way business, as it was again on Saturday as the US opened the Olympic tournament with 119-62 thrashing.
Durant picked up right where he left off in the 2012 Olympics with 25 points, and the Americans routed China in their opening game.
Carmelo Anthony, who was on hand when Team USA lost to Argentina in the semifinals at the 2004 Summer Games, was intent on sending a message in the opener. “We want to send a message to the rest of the world that we’re here (on) business, we’re focused on winning, and that’s what we care about. We don’t want to let nothing come in between that”.
DeMarcus Cousins was a force inside, scoring 17 points on six-for-eight shooting, while Paul George chipped in 15 points off the bench. But coach Mike Krzyzewski said this squad has already bonded as much as any of the three US teams he has led in the Olympics. “It’s cool to have a fraternity of guys who have won a gold medal”. “That’s better than making the shot, to be honest with you. When I saw my teammates get excited for me, that kept me going”.
Outside of Olympic competition, the U.S.is on a 68-game unbeaten run (45 straight wins in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, and 23 consecutive wins in exhibition games) that goes back to 2006. The U.S. next plays Monday against Venezuela.
Guess who China had to play in its first game of the 2016 Olympic basketball tournament? He will become the first three-time gold medalist on the men’s side if the USA wins.
The 32-year-old veteran tied LeBron James and David Robinson by playing in his 24th game in the Olympics.
“I thought China played really hard, they have a lot of young players and they are getting better and we were good”, said USA coach Mike Krzyzewski.
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Former Milwaukee Bucks man Yi Jianlian, who was selected in the same National Basketball Association draft as Durant, topped the scoring for China with 25 points to go with five rebounds and a block.
