USA/GRE – Americans set the record straight with emphatic win over Greece

BEIJING (Olympics) - Greece may have snuck up on the United States two years ago in Japan but the Americans were ready and waiting on Thursday night at the Wukesong Arena.

Sparked defensively by Dwyane Wade, the Americans took control in the second quarter and went on to claim a 92-69 victory.

The win gave the Americans partial revenge for the upset they suffered at the hands of the Greeks two years ago in Japan at the FIBA World Championship when Panagiotis Yannakis’ men won their semi-final 101-95.

With the Americans on top 20-16, Wade came up with a steal and whipped the ball towards the basket where Kobe Bryant flew in and snatched the ball out of the air before dunking.

After slams for each team, Wade took over again, this time taking the ball away from Bourousis and passing to LeBron James.

He went towards the basket like a runaway train and dunked for a 26-18 lead.

The game didn’t get away from Greece until several minutes later.

After Kostas Tsartsaris laid one up and in to trim the American lead to 38-30, Bryant hit a three-pointer and then Chris Bosh with 2:25 left in the first half dunked for a 44-30 lead.

James then got in on the act and stole a pass from Vasilis Spanoulis and went in for an uncontested two-handed dunk with his back to the basket.

Bosh completed the run with another three-point play to leave the Americans in front, 49-30.

The Americans were in command the rest of the way.

About the only thing Mike Krzyzewski’s team didn’t do well was shoot free throws. They were 13 of 23 (57%) for the night.

Bryant and Chris Bosh each had 18 points and Wade 17 for the Americans, while Theo Papaloukas led Greece with 15.

FIBA