United States’ Kevin Durant smiles after making a three-point basket during a basketball game against China at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.
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China, which has never finished higher than eighth, tried to slow the American onslaught with physicality, a strategy that kept United States of America players parked at the free-throw line.
“We were not ready to play”.
This was a game that went exactly as it was supposed to go, beginning with the 9-0 run to start the game for the US, and right through the 23-point lead the Americans built just two minutes into the second quarter.
DeMarcus Cousins added 17 points and Paul George 15 for the US, which is a heavy favorite to win a third straight gold.
Durant had 25 points and six assists, and at that rate, Durant could surpass his American scoring record of 156 points in one Olympics. “Our target before the game was to try to get things better”.
Anthony, 32, finished with nine points and made by history by becoming the first USA man to play basketball in four Olympics.
The AP reported Anthony tied LeBron James, who chose to skip these Games, and David Robinson by playing in his 24th game in the Olympics. “You talk about a commitment”, Krzyzewski said. “I’m proud of him”.
“I appreciate that. I have an unbelievable respect for Carmelo”.
While the US is loaded All-NBA performers and All-Stars, it is short on worldwide experience after Anthony and Durant. Cousins also played fewer minutes in this specific game, though that will not be a trend moving forward assuming Boogie can stay healthy. But they got off to a good start in Rio. He carried Team USA to victory in the 2010 World Cup, when he was named tournament MVP, and was the team’s leading scorer in the 2012 Olympics. He had 12 points on four three-pointers in a 126-second span of the third quarter.
Said center DeMarcus Cousins. Who is going to stop the Sacramento Kings big man in the low post? Krzyzewski appreciated the intent from the Knicks star, who took just five shots, made two, grabbed seven rebounds and had one block and one steal.
For the first time since 1998, betting on the Olympics is legal in Las Vegas, where the Americans were installed as 50-point favorites. He missed nearly all of the 2014-15 season and returned to All-NBA level in 2015-16.
Former NBA lottery pick Yi Jianlian returned 25 points for China but no other players reached double figures for the Asian champions. Team USA’s length on the defensive end really bothered the Chinese and they struggled to find quality shots all game, with the Chinese squad only hitting 35.7 percent of their shots and turning the ball over 24 times.
Lewis (USC 2007-10) and Venezuela trailed by just four points (18-14) after one quarter, but were outscored by the Serbs 26-9 in the second quarter and never got back into the contest.
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“That’s our identity – defense first”.
