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U.S. team pulverizes Puerto Rico in exhibition

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

LAS VEGAS – The United States emphatically reasserted its dominance over Puerto Rico.

Coming soon: a chance to reclaim its old spot on top of the basketball world.

Using a sensational defensive effort to overcome a slow start, the Americans overwhelmed the Puerto Ricans 114-69 on Thursday night in their lone exhibition game on home soil before the world championships.

Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points, Antawn Jamison added 16 and Dwyane Wade had 14 for the Americans, who will meet Puerto Rico again on Aug. 19, in the opening game of the world championships in Sapporo, Japan.

Hours before departing for Asia to continue training for that event, the Americans showed their defense seems at championship level already.

A 31-2 run spanning halftime blew open the game and sent the U.S. on its way to avenging a 92-73 loss to Puerto Rico at the 2004 Olympics – perhaps the most embarrassing moment in U.S. basketball history.

The Americans ended Puerto Rico’s hopes for another upset with a suffocating defensive effort, continuing to contest shots long after the outcome had been decided.

LeBron James and Joe Johnson each added 10 points for the U.S.

It was a mostly impressive effort from the U.S. team, put together by a revamped USA Basketball after disappointing performances in the last two international competitions: a third-place finish in ‘04 following a sixth-place showing in the 2002 worlds.

Cheered on by a group of flag-waving fans at the Thomas & Mack Center, Puerto Rico pulled ahead 33-29 while the Americans went scoreless for more than 3 minutes to open the second quarter.

But the U.S. held Puerto Rico to one field goal over the final 7 minutes, closing the half with a 19-2 surge to take a 48-35 lead.

The Americans had a whopping 21-1 advantage in points off turnovers at halftime over the Puerto Ricans.

Getting easy baskets after turnovers, the Americans opened the second half with a 12-0 run, highlighted when James dunked and drew a foul after a steal by Johnson, to open a 60-35 bulge with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter.