Brazil will play the United States in its third game of the FIBA 2010 World Championship Monday night hoping to end the Americans' good form.
The United States broke open a close game in the second quarter and stormed to a 106-78 victory over Croatia in its first game at Istanbul’s Abdi İpekçi arena Saturday night.
The Croatians, on the back of excellent early efforts from youngsters Ante Tomic, Bojan Bogdanovic and Luksa Andric, out-rebounded the U.S. 12-9 in the first quarter and only trailed 22-20.
When the second frame got underway, the teams traded baskets before a Kevin Durant three-point play after a dunk sparked a 14-2 run that put the U.S. in command at 36-22.
The U.S. defense held Croatia to just six points in the quarter and also dominated the boards en route to a 48-26 lead at half-time.
Durant, Derrick Rose and Eric Gordon each had nine points at the break and the Americans marched to a decisive triumph.
The USA got 14 points Durant and 16 from Eric Gordon.
It was an impressive start for a U.S. team that came to Turkey without any players who helped them win the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. Instead of those superstars, the Americans are left with a young, undersized team that features Durant, the NBA's leading scorer, as its centerpiece.
He scored five straight points to kick off the decisive burst early in the second quarter and added eight rebounds in just 21 minutes.
All 12 players scored for the Americans, as coach Mike Krzyzewski was able to give his starters plenty of rest with the U.S. playing its three toughest Group B games in the first three days of the tournament.
"We had a lot of respect for Croatia,” Krzyzewski said after the game. “Their big guys are very good and their guards are good shooters. They played very well in the first quarter and we needed three threes to break open a close game. Now we have to turn around and beat another good side."
In the group’s other game, Slovenia will take on Croatia in a crucial game for the second spot in Group B.
Slovenians got their noses in front of tournament debutants Tunisia in the first half Saturday night and tore their opponents apart in the second.
Roared on by an estimated 3,000 of their own fans at the Abdi İpekçi, Slovenia pulled away for a 80-56 triumph.
Slovenia might have the fans’ advantage, but Croatia has no plans of giving up the competition.
"It's very difficult to play against this team [U.S.], especially when we shot the way we did tonight,” Croatia coach Josip Vrankovic said after losing to the U.S.
“We knew it was going to be hard but after a good first quarter, we struggled. We have to put this defeat behind us. Our tournament begins now."
Also today, two teams that lost their first games in Group B, Tunisia and Iran, will try to snatch away a victory when they meet in Istanbul.
Australia takes on Germany
The Germans will be on the court to prove once again that they can overcome the absence of NBA star Dirk Nowitzki when they play Australia Monday.
Germany put up a good fight against Argentina on the opening day of the tournament before losing 78-74 at Kadir Has Arena in Kayseri while Australia avoided an early upset by beating Jordan 76-75 thanks to a late rally.
German center Jan Jagla, who finished the game with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds, was sorry to have missed out on a chance to win.
“We were the better side in the game, I do not understand how we lost, but I think we were concentrating on defense rather than points,” he said. “But we have just begun the tournament.”
In Monday’s other games in Kayseri, Serbia, which blew out Angola 94-44 Saturday, takes on Jordan while Argentina hopes to have an easy game against Angola.
