US rout China as KD wows Oakland

Americans hitting their stride ahead of Olympics

SAN FRANCISCO, July 27, (Agencies): The USA, hitting their stride ahead of their bid for a third straight Olympic men’s basketball gold, put on another master class Tuesday in a 107-57 exhibition victory over China in Oakland, California.

The rout was a coming out party for Kevin Durant at Oracle Arena, home of his new team the Golden State Warriors. Durant rocked the NBA with his decision to forsake the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Warriors as a free agent, and he received a rapturous welcome from his new home fans.

“KD” received a thunderous ovation during the pre-game introductions — the cheers reverberating even longer than those for established Warriors stars Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Durant drained a three-point jump shot seven seconds into the contest and followed that with a dunk as he scored the first 10 points for the Americans.

He finished with 13 in a game in which the US took charge just as firmly as they had in a 106-57 win over China in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Li Gen #12 of the China Men’s National Team drives on Klay Thompson #11 of the United States Men’s National Team during the second half of a USA Basketball

showcase exhibition game at ORACLE Arena on July 26 in Oakland, California. (AFP)

DeMarcus Cousins led the US with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony, at 32 the oldest man in the squad and a veteran of their last two victorious Olympic campaigns as well as a bronzemedal showing in 2004, added 20 points, 16 of them in the third quarter.

The Americans connected on precisely half their shots, 36 of 72, from the field and held China to 40 percent shooting.

The two teams will meet in earnest on August 6 in Rio de Janeiro, in the Olympic opener for both.

Zhou Qi, the towering 2.17m (7ft 1in) 20-year-old drafted in June by the Houston Rockets, bounced back from a twopoint effort on Sunday to lead China with 13 points. United States’ DeMarcus Cousins, left, wraps up China’s Li Muhao as Li drives to the basket during the second half of an exhibition basketball game on July 26 in Oakland, California. The

United States won 107-57. (AP)