US improves to 5-0 at worlds with rout
September 2, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Eric Gordon(notes) scored 21 points and the United States pulledaway after a sluggish first half to beat Tunisia 92-57 on Thursday in its finalgame of pool play at the world championship.
With nothing to play for, the Americans sleepwalked through most of theearly start, leading the winless team by only four points early in the thirdquarter before turning it into a rout over the final 15 minutes.
The top seed from Group B, the United States (5-0) was awaiting the loser ofthe Australia-Angola matchup, which would be its opponent Monday as the No. 4seed from Group A.
The Americans misfired on nine of their 10 3-point attempts in the firsthalf and failed to show any sustained stretches of good offense, an occasionalproblem for the team during the group stage.
The Americans have time to clean it up, with three days off before playingtheir first elimination game.
Kevin Durant(notes) and Russell Westbrook(notes) each scored 14 points for the U.S. teamand Stephen Curry(notes) had 13.
Marouan Kechrid scored 15 points for Tunisia, which went 0-5 in its firstappearance in the world championship.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski played his starters the entire first quarter,which ended with the Americans up 19-13. The reserves went the whole second, andthough they pushed the lead into double digits, Tunisia was within two in thefinal minute before the Americans got the final two baskets for a 39-33 lead.
Clearly taking advantage of the Americans’ disinterest, Tunisia hustled tokeep possessions alive, even ripping a couple of balls right out of U.S.players’ hands. But those extra possessions usually ended in missed shots, asTunisia hit 28 percent after entering the game at 35.8 percent for thetournament, second-worst in the 24-team field.
The Americans finally broke it open midway through the third quarter. An 8-2burst turned an eight-point lead into a 55-41 advantage. Gordon and Curry madeconsecutive 3-pointers in an 8-0 spurt that extended it to 63-44 in the finalminute of the period.
Macram Ben Romdhane finished with 11 points for Tunisia.
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