The Dominican Republic almost made the London Olympics, but the USA is looking to win it, and it shows as they’ve opened up a 23-point lead at halftime of their first Olympic tuneup.
USA Basketball vs. Dominican Republic: 3-Pointers, Turnovers Fueling Major Team USA Lead At Halftime
Kevin Durant hit his first five threes of the night and now has 21 points. Durant has since missed a few, but the short three-point line is a chip shot for the league's leading scorer. Andre Iguodala has also nailed three looks from beyond the arc.
The breakneck pace of the first quarter slowed down at the start of the second: they still forced turnovers -- I believe we're at 12 and counting for the Dominican squad -- but the game became a little bit more half-court based, with Carmelo Anthony registering the team's first four points of the period by getting to the line and Kobe Bryant pulling a signature jumper over a double-team. The Dominican would go on a 7-0 run at one point after hitting some open looks, but the USA roster would recover and make the lead more comfortable again.
LeBron James has predictably been taking a lot of the minutes at the center spot and he's doing well, to say the least: Al Horford is really struggling down low, and James has had a hand on a few of his looks.
All 11 of the players on the USA roster have checked in, but Anthony Davis has yet to take the court.
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