ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship) - The United States returned to the court and rolled to another decisive victory over Angola in a major international competition.
Bringing back memories of the 1992 Olympics and even the Beijing Games from two years ago when the Americans claimed big wins against the African champions, Mike Krzyzewski's USA played for the first time since their big Group B win over Tunisia on Thursday and claimed a 121-66 victory to stay unbeaten in the FIBA World Championship.
Unlike their African brothers Tunisia, who only trailed 39-33 at half-time against Team USA, Angola never mounted a serious challenge.
The Americans had a stranglehold on the contest by the end of the first quarter.
Everything unraveled quickly for Angola, who only trailed 12-7 after a three-ball from Angola's Joaquim Gomes.
The tournament favorites replied with a Kevin Durant lay-up that sparked a 10-0 run.
Chauncey Billups, who led the USA with 19 points, hit one of his five three-pointers in that run while Durant also stopped and popped from long range to make it 22-7.
Gomes, who had a game-high 21 points, stopped the rot for Angola with a jumpshot but the Americans quickly got into transition and Odom scored at the other end to make it 24-9.
By the end of the frame, the lead was 20 and the advantage ballooned to 65-38 by half-time.
Roberto Fortes did come off the bench to provide Angola fans with a few thrills, hitting all three of his three-pointers before the break.
The USA got back-to-back shots from the arc by Derrick Rose to start the second half and pulled away for a decisive victory.
While the Angolans stayed on the court to receive good-bye applause from the crowd since their tournament was over, the Americans left the court in a good mood.
Durant and Gay even playfully slapped Mascat – the mascot of the FIBA World Championship – in the head before running to the locker room.
Far more serious and exiting times await the USA, who will face either Russia or New Zealand in the Quarter-Finals.
FIBA.com
Subject: US Routs Angola 
Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:51 pm
