Kevin Durant led Team USA with 19 points in 18 minutes, as USA Basketball cruised to a 106-57 victory over China on a warm Sunday evening at sold out Staples Center.
"I want to thank the people of Los Angeles," Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the lopsided game. "What a great crowd: Unbelievable, staying late, full house, terrific."
Krzyzewski added, "We really played hard, and we shared the ball well to have 29 assists on 41 buckets. We should have won, but the way we won was excellent."
The crowd had stayed late, largely, due to the acrobatic and dominating play of DeAndre Jordan. Sure, Durant may have only missed two shots and hit four of his five three-point attempts to lead all scorers, but Jordan's physical size and athletic movement kept the crowd interested until the sun set in LA and on China.
DeAndre Jordan with the EMPHATIC putback slam for the #USABMNT on his home floor in LA on @NBATV! #RapidReplay https://t.co/4iaPS4u9X5 — USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 25, 2016
In his postgame comments, Chinese coach Gong Luming admitted via a translator that the result was decided before the game even started. Sunday night offered an exhibition akin to the Harlem Globetrotters playing against the Washington Generals, but Team USA still managed to put on a show.
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Krzyzewski played the right strings by contorting his lineups to fit Jordan, who regularly starts for the LA Clippers in the same arena, over the probable starter at Rio 2016, DeMarcus Cousins. Also Krzyzewski left Durant on the bench and pushed Southern California natives Paul George of Palmdale and DeMar DeRozan of Compton into the starting lineup.
DeRozan had a good night with 13 points on 6-8 shooting from the field in just under 17 minutes of floor time. Klay Thompson, who was born in LA and went to high school in Orange County, was the only player to play over 19 minutes in a comfortable performance that did not stress the home team.
Jordan, who is on his first senior national team, repeatedly stole the show with his rim rocking slam dunks and breathtaking block shots. Jordan stood out at Team USA Camp in Las Vegas, and the ferocity he showed in the desert appears to be carrying into the exhibition season.
"It's bigger than the Clippers; it's bigger than everything," Jordan spoke about the pride with which he wears the Team USA jersey. "It's a huge honor representing your country. I've dreamt about this since I was a kid."
Krzyzewski added emphatically added about Jordan, "As good as I thought he was on T.V. or tape, he's better. He's really, I think, one of the great players in the league right now—and an amazing teammate. He does dirty work willingly, and he does it at the highest level."
Strictly statistically speaking, Jordan finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals in 17 active minutes.
Next, Team USA faces the same Chinese team in Oakland on Tuesday. Durant will likely return to the starting lineup, as he plays at Oracle Arena for the first time since signing with the Golden State Warriors.
