Team USA starts slow, then crushes Puerto Rico

updated 2:46 a.m. ET Aug. 4, 2006

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.

“Puerto Rico played a great first quarter and they made adjustments to go against our pressure defense. They were really good,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “Then our guys made some adjustments, not overextending themselves, and we were really good.”

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.

“We know what kind of team they have,” said Puerto Rico guard Carlos Arroyo, who plays for the Orlando Magic. “They are definitely a different team than what they showed two years ago at the Olympics.”

LeBron James and Joe Johnson each added 10 points for the U.S. while teaming for one of the game’s highlight plays.

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.

Arroyo led Puerto Rico with 16 points. Daniel Santiago, Roberto Hatton and Rick Apodaca each added 12 for Puerto Rico, which shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53).

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.

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“I thought our defense was the turning point in that second period,” Krzyzewski said. “Our guys were so excited to play ... they were too excited. We just settled down, the next group settled us down.”

The Americans had a whopping 41-4 advantage in points off turnovers over the Puerto Ricans, whose jerseys featured the Burger King logo.

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.

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