Forward Kevin Durant and guard Bradley Beal, with 17 points each, led the attack of the United States team, which overwhelmed Argentina by 108-80 last night in the third preparation game in Las Vegas for the Tokyo Olympics.
The exhibition brought great relief to the Stars and Stripes team as they had lost the previous two games against the teams of Nigeria (87-90) and Australia (83-91) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
United States, which seeks his fourth consecutive Olympic gold, this time he did not leave margin to the rival. Coach Gregg popovich, widely criticized for the disappointing level shown against Nigeria and Australia, found the key to good communication on the field between all the players.
Argentina was then at the crossroads of wanting and not being able against the siege imposed by the Americans. Hence, Durant, of the Brooklyn Nets, and point guard Damian Lillard, of the Portland Trail Blazers, who had excelled in the games of the previous losses, respectively, this time were one more within the team, but with a key contribution.
The Washington Wizards’ Durant and Beal, who combined for five 3-pointers of nine attempts, also had six rebounds and three assists each. The escort Zach LaVine, of the Chicago Bulls, finished with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, which also made him a winning factor.
Lillard finished with 13 points, three rebounds and four assists, while the pivot Bam Adebayoof the Miami Heat, he reached 12 points, caught five balls under the hoops and gave five touchdown passes to complete the list of five players who had double-digit numbers.
The veteran power forward Draymond green, of the Golden State Warriors, was the sixth player on the United States team to get eight points, two rebounds, three assists, recovered a ball and put a block.
Meanwhile, Argentina once again had the veteran power forward Luis Scola as his best player who contributed 16 points, five rebounds and two assists. The base Nicolas Laprovittola he reached 13 points, three rebounds and three assists that left him second best scorer of the Argentine team, which had four players who achieved double-digit numbers.
Among them were the base FI agree Campazzoof the Denver Nuggets, who scored 12 points, grabbed two rebounds and gave up another two assists.
The young forward Gabriel Deck, of the Oklahoma City, also had 10 points to close the list of the four best scorers in Argentina.
With the victory, the United States will reach the last exhibition match, which will Sunday, July 18, against Spain, with the image and game crisis overcome and trying to show that her preparation to revalidate the title of Olympic champion is on the right track.