Team USA routs Venezuela

It is hardly fair to make the Venezuelans try to steal a win from a team that has superstar basketball players Kevin Durant, Paul George and Klay Thompson.

Pretty much the only thing missing in all this is coach Mike Krzyzewski’s reaction.

With only a few highlight plays sprinkled in, the United States of America men were forced to grind it out. Warriors forward Kevin Durant opened the game’s scoring with a layup on the team’s second possession.

John Cox scored 14 points for Venezuela, which will play the US again on August 8 in the Olympics. But that was the only lead that they could muster as the Americans scored the next 12 unanswered points. The U.S. won the rebounding battle, 54-29. The team defense was vast, limiting Team Venezuela to 23.9% shooting on the game. Predictably, the Americans rolled and Irving co-led Team USA with 13 points in 21 minutes of action. The men are 4-0 and have one tune-up game left against Nigeria in Houston on Monday, while the women are 3-0 and have one exhibition left against Australia at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

They’ll host Venezuela on Friday at the United Center in Chicago, home of the Team USA guard Jimmy Butler and the Bulls. Team USA’s lengthy and smothering perimeter defense also forced 19 turnovers and blocked eight shots en route to a fourth straight win.

Moments after his successful return to Chicago with the USA national team, Jimmy Butler pulled on a T-shirt with a picture of Brazilian soccer star Pele on the front.

Now in the heart of its preparations for the 2016 Rio Summer Games, the United States men’s basketball team has looked dominant but at times sloppy and perhaps overconfident in their three exhibition victories.

USA’s DeAndre Jordan (6) dunks against Venezuela’s Miguel Ruiz (14) during the first half of an exhibition basketball game Friday, July 29, 2016, at the United Center in Chicago.

Even better than the singing, however, is seeing Kevin Durant wrapped in a blanked with the biggest grin on his face and the quick camera work at the end capturing exactly what Carmelo Anthony thinks of the entire situation. He was cheered every time he was announced at the United Center.