Team USA starts slow, then crushes Puerto Rico
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Wade added his own dunk after a steal a few minutes later — then saluted a group of troops sitting in the front row along the sideline.
Getting mostly dunks, the U.S. shot 70 percent (14-of-20) in the third quarter to build an 83-48 lead. After allowing 26 points in the first quarter, the Americans gave up a total of 22 in the middle two.
The U.S. started James, Wade and Anthony — who all played in Athens — along with Chris Bosh and Chris Paul. Anthony sparked the Americans to a quick start, scoring seven points as the U.S. opened a 9-2 lead. But Puerto Rico regrouped and was down only 29-26 after Apodaca’s 3-pointer with under 3 seconds left in the period.
The Puerto Ricans have slipped since their upset in Athens, splitting their eight regional qualifying games last year and needing a wild-card invitation from FIBA just to make it to Japan.
But they came out seriously Thursday. Coach Julio Toro was hit with a technical foul barely 1½ minutes into the game after arguing a carrying violation.
The game closed the second of two training camp sessions for the U.S. team on the campus of UNLV. The Americans were scheduled to depart Friday for China, where they will play exhibitions next week against China and Brazil, followed by additional training and two more games in South Korea.
The U.S. team is bringing 14 players to Asia after Amare Stoudemire was sent home earlier Thursday to continue rehabbing his knee and attend to the impending birth of a child. The roster must be reduced to 12 before the start of the world championships.
Notes: The teams scrimmaged on Tuesday night. Scores were reset at the end of each period, otherwise the Americans would have won 116-82. ... Among the sellout crowd of 18,218 were Julius Erving, Pat Riley and Olympic gold medalists Scottie Pippen and Clyde Drexler. ... Perhaps stemming from Duke’s upset victory over undefeated UNLV in the 1991 Final Four, Krzyzewski drew quite a few boos during pregame introductions.
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