The US Olympic teams played a double-header in Washington, DC, tonight vs. Brazil. Shockingly, the US men had to rally from a 10-point deficit to win 80-69, while the women won easily 99-67 as Lindsay Whalen led the USA with 21 points.
The Men
Brazil shocked the USA by shooting 62.5 percent in the 1st quarter (while USA shot 35 percent) to take a 27-17 lead. The USA forced 12 turnovers and held Brazil to just 5 points in the 2nd quarter to take the lead at 30-29 as Tyson Chandler got the steal and the slam to close out a 13-0 run. It was 37-32 at the half.
Brazil stayed within 65-59 at the 6:00 mark of the 2nd half but LeBron James scored the last 7 USA points for the final margin. James finished with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 32 minutes of play. No other USA player played more than 25 minutes.
Kevin Durant added 11 points, Chris Paul 10 and Kevin Love scored 5 points in just 6 minutes of play.
Brazil out-shot the USA 50 percent to 41, and 60 percent to 48 on 2-point attempts. But the USA won the possession game big-time with 12 offensive boards and 23 Brazil turnovers.
Coach K said afterward that the USA lacked defensive intensity in the 1st, and that it would win (or lose) based on how well they play defensively.
The Women
Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore joined Whalen in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively, making it a stellar night the the MN Lynx. Diana Taurasi added 16 and Tina Charles 11 for Team USA.
The US led all the way, 27-14 after 1 period, 51-27 at the half, 72-48 after 3 periods and 99-67 at the final buzzer. USA scored more than 20 points in every period while Brazil did only once in the 3rd quarter.
USA shot 47 percent to just 32 percent for Brazil.
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