United States’ Kevin Durant (5) celebrates a score with teammate DeMarcus Cousins (12) during a men’s basketball game against Venezuela at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016.
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Durant, Anthony, Cousins, Kyrie Irving and Warriors guard Klay Thompson started the game for the Americans, and all 12 players scored.
On a day that opened with a surprise in the men’s Olympic basketball tournament – Australia upsetting medal-hopeful France – Team USA quickly set things right in its opener with a dominant win over China, 119-62.
“Coach K wants us to pressure the ball and try to create those turnovers because we’re so athletic and we can get out on the break”, Durant said.
DeMarcus Cousins added 17 points and Paul George 15 for the United States, who are heavy favourites to win a third straight Olympic title.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said this squad has already bonded as much as any of the three US teams he has led in the Olympics.
“We can’t just throw them in with …” he started to say.
Durant led Team USA with 25 points, hitting 10-of-14 field goal attempts.
Before you get too excited, China isn’t a very good team. “If we keep playing hard and keep sharing the ball, I think we’re going to get better”. They went 4-for-22 from three and shot a similar percentage against the U.S.in their 80-45 exhibition loss last month.
Anthony, America’s first ever four-time basketball Olympian, has emerged as the team’s unofficial leader.
After dismantling China to win their Olympic opener, Team USA Men’s Basketball will be back in action Monday night.
Carmelo Anthony joined Durant as the only two Olympic veterans, coming off the 2012 London games, to spearhead the 2016 Rio squad.
Kyrie Irving, DeMarcus Cousins and Paul George each had big roles to play in the win, but it was team play that really helped set the US apart. The Americans then unleash a 17-0 run in the following four minutes, highlighted by four consecutive, unanswered three-pointers from Kyrie Irving.
But for fans, this might actually make the games more interesting. They last tasted defeat in 2004, finishing the Athens Olympics with a bronze medal along with three losses. The players reportedly left quickly.
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“What’s done is done”. After the Americans missed their first five shots – hey, they trailed 2-0 once upon a time – Anthony sparked the run-away-and-hide ambush. “We accept those responsibilities and move on”, Anthony, the elder statesmen of the team, said after the Americans’ blowout of China.
