Hoops Nation

Men’s basketball took the courts for Tuesday night in London. In the final game of the night, the Americans faced off Tunisia for their second game of their “Quest for Gold,” as said by Deron Williams. Team USA was the only team before their game to not have faced a loss and had the possibility of being the only team with a 2-0 record by the end of the night.
 

Kevin Durant took the start over Carmelo Anthony in tonight’s game. Although this game seemed easy, the Americans were lacking intensity, as Tunisia kept up with them in the first quarter. Coach K was not pleased with the starting five’s efforts, which forced him to take all the starters out of the game. Bringing in Kevin Love, Carmelo Anthony, and Deron Williams brought some spark for Team USA and led them to lead, after one period, by six, 21-15.
 

Team USA was still a bit rusty in the second quarter, as they still had Tunisia keeping up with their game. Team USA, however, had a better offensive flow, as they broke out in transition for a couple possessions. One big play was a cocked-back hammer down by LeBron James, flying from past the free-throw line which made the crowd gasp for a quick second. Heading into halftime, Tunisia only trailed by 13, 46-33.
 

The Americans turned it up big in the third quarter. The ball was moving around very well and their defense improved, after allowing Tunisia to score and stay in the game in the first half. After Kevin Love was playing well, he faced an knee-to-knee contusion. This forced Coach K to send the #1 overall pick, Anthony Davis, out on the floor. By the 4:20 mark of the third quarter, the score count in the third quarter was 23-3, in favor of Team USA. What the Americans did better in the third was they avoided attempting the long shots and they pounded the paint more often. This type of play led Team USA to finish the third quarter making 15 of 18 shot attempts, not to mention Anthony Davis’ three dynamic alley-oops. As the USA scored 39, they managed to hold Tunisia to only 14, by the end of the quarter. Heading into the fourth, the Americans led 85-47.
 
The fourth quarter was treated more like a practice scrimmage as the defensive and offensive intensity went down from both squads. Team USA was just enjoying the final quarter, as smiles were flooded from their bench. As for the Tunisians, it seemed like they were happy to be on the court with Team USA. By the end of the game, Team USA trampled Tunisia by 47, 110-63.
 

Team Tunisia Top Performers
 

Scoring: Makram Ben Romdhane, 22; Mohamed Hadidane, 11; Marouan Kechrid, 9
 
Assists: Makram Ben Romdhane, 4; Amine Rzig, 3; Mehdi Hafsi, 2
 
Rebounds: Makram Ben Romdhane, 11; Salah Mejri, 7; Marouan Kechrid, 3
 

Team USA Top Performers
 

Scoring: Carmelo Anthony, 16; Kevin Love, 16; Anthony Davis, 12
 
Assists: Chris Paul, 7; Andre Igoudala, 5; Kevin Durant, 5
 
Rebounds: Kevin Durant, 10; Tyson Chandler, 6; Kevin Love, 6
 

Team USA Preliminary Round Record 2-0
 

Kevin Love and Anthony Davis unexpectedly stepped up greatly for Team USA and led them to a great 47-point win against a first-time team in the Olympic games. Tunisia did a great job keeping up with Team USA in the first half, for having no NBA players on the team. Team USA just played a whole lot better and turned up their game on both ends of the floor in the second half. Next up for the Americans is Nigeria, the team which beat Tunisia, but unfortunately lost earlier today against Lithuania.
 

Around the Olympics Scores
 

China 54 – 73 Russia
 
Australia 70 – 82 Spain
 
Lithuania 72 – 53 Nigeria
 
Great Britain 62 – 67 Brazil
 
France 71 – 64 Argentina