USA 113 vs. Brazil 76
LAS VEGAS (2007 FIBA Americas Championship) - In a highly anticipated matchup which determined Group B's top team for Preliminary Round play at the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, the United States knocked off Brazil by the final of 113-76. The USA opened the game on an 8-0 run and would lead by as many as ...
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LAS VEGAS (2007 FIBA Americas Championship) - In a highly anticipated matchup which determined Group B's top team for Preliminary Round play at the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, the United States knocked off Brazil by the final of 113-76.
The USA opened the game on an 8-0 run and would lead by as many as 49 on a night when Brazil's top scorer, Leandro Barbosa, was limited to four points.
Barbosa had no answer for the suffocating defense he faced on this evening, the bulk of it being applied by Kobe Bryant.
Barbosa shot just one-of-seven from the field and scored well below his tournament average of 27.
The United States held a 27-21 lead after the opening quarter, but began to distance itself in the second. LeBron James' near half-court three-pointer to beat the first-half horn put the USA up 57-38.
After outscoring Brazil 39-11 in the third quarter, the USA held a 96-49 advantage.
The trio of Carmelo Anthony (21 points), James (21 points) and Bryant (20 points) did the bulk of the damage offensively for the United States on an evening in which the size of the lead didn't require any of them to play so much as a minute in the final quarter.
The United States will open Second Round play on Monday vs. Mexico while the Brazilians will face either Panama or Puerto Rico.
Notes: Tayshaun Prince left the game early in the first half for the USA due to an ankle injury.
Tim Kuck
USA Basketball