The USA (2-0) defeated Venezuela (0-2), 113-69 on Monday (Tuesday morning in Manila) at Carioca in Rio de Janeiro. Paul George led the United States with 20 points. Jimmy Butler scored 17 points while Kevin Durant had 16. Kobe Bryant’s cousin John Cox, led Venezuela in scoring against the U.S. with 19 points.
2016 RIO OLYMPIC
USA VS. VENEZUELA
EVENTS: Full Game Replay
Where: RIO DE JANIERO BRAZIL
When: MONDAY AUGUST 08, 2016
When: MONDAY AUGUST 08, 2016
USA 113 – George 20, Butler 17, Durant 16, Anthony 14, Jordan 14, DeRozan 8, Irving 7, Cousins 6, Lowry 5, Barnes 4, Green 2, Thompson 0.
VENEZUELA 69 – Cox 19, Echenique 18, Cubillan 10, G. Vargas 10, Perez 5, Guillent 4, Ruiz 2, Colmenares 1, Lewis 0, Marriaga 0, J. Vargas 0, Graterol 0.
Quarters: 18-18, 48-26, 75-51, 113-69.
Full Games Reactions
USA 113-69 Venezuela, FINAL
David Cubillan ends the game by hitting two free throws to make the final deficit a tad more respectable for Venezuela and that will do it. The US have started off pool play by going 2-0.
Well, Venezuela put up a good fight early on but ultimately they were no match against the US’s superior talent. And, hey, it wasn’t a 50 point loss. And wouldn’t you know it, it was in fact Paul George’s breakout game as he scored a team-high 20 points off this bench (plus he picked up four rebounds and an assist along the way). It was a good warm-um game for Coach K as he could see his team handle something approximating adversity without any serious threat of actually dropping the game.
And that will wrap up today’s men’s basketball liveblogging. Thanks to everybody who followed along with us today, particularly those who contributed. Ciao!