USA Men's Basketball Defeats Venezuela 113-69

(photo credit: USA Basketball/Twitter)

Team USA resumed their dominant play against a gritty Venezuela squad Monday. Although they finished with a win, the all-star cast of Kevin Durant and company did not start the game off with the intensity Coach K would have liked. They turned the ball over six times and shot less than 50 percent from field in the first quarter. The score was tied 18-18 heading into the second.

Team USA knew their play was unacceptable and changed the pace of the game by finishing the second quarter on a 24-4 run. Jimmy Butler led the USA squad in the first half with ten points and stellar defense, which held Venezuela to only 8 points in the quarter.

Many haven’t forgotten Paul George’s horrific leg injury two years ago at a Team USA scrimmage. It seems like the Pacer's superstar is good as new as he finished the game with 20 points, going 3-4 from three-point range and shooting 86 percent from the field. Carmelo Anthony chipped in 14 and has now scored the third most points in the history of Men’s Olympic Basketball.

John Cox, a cousin of Kobe Bryant, lead the Venezuelan team with 19 points. Regardless of Team USA’s poor play in the beginning of the game, they finished with a 44-point lead. The final score was 113- 69.