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Team USA found the going much tougher against Brazil on Tuesday than it did a day earlier against China.
LeBron James, Elton Brand and Joe Johnson came up with huge plays in the final minute as the United States basketball team edged Brazil, 90-86, in a warmup for the World Championships in Japan later this month.
The exhibition victory did not come without a price, however, as Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony hyperextended his right knee chasing a loose ball in the second quarter. Anthony, whose 16 points led the U.S., did not return.
"I think he's fine," Team USA assistant coach Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns said. "A couple days' rest and he should be OK."
On Monday, Team USA rolled past China, 119-73, and it appeared it was on its way to an impressive victory in this one after opening a 52-38 lead at the break. But Brazil scored the first 16 points of the second half and hung tough thereafter.
The U.S. held just an 87-86 lead before Cleveland Cavaliers superstar James drove the left baseline and banked in a shot with 34 seconds left, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Brand blocked a shot on the other end. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 20 seconds to go but missed both free throws, giving Brazil a chance to tie.
But Atlanta Hawks guard Johnson stole the ball from Marcelinho Machado and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left, then split two free throws to ice the contest.
"This will help us in the long run," D'Antoni said of the close contest.
Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls scored 14 points, Johnson added 12 and James 11 for the U.S., which was outrebounded, 41-25.
Leandro Barbosa of the Suns scored 14 points and James' Cavaliers teammate Anderson Varejao collected 11 and 16 rebounds for Brazil.
Team USA travels to Seoul to take on Lithuania on Sunday and host Korea on August 15. After those games, coach Mike Krzyzewski is expected to make two cuts to reduce the roster to 12 for the World Championships, which begin August 19.
Krzyzewski also must select a captain and revealed that James, Anthony and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade will receive strong consideration.
At the outset of training camp in July, Krzyzewski - the first college coach put in charge of the national team since the advent of the NBA era in 1992 - said the goal was for the Americans to re-establish themselves as the dominant team in international basketball.
In 2002, the U.S. finished an embarrassing sixth at the World Championships, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars. It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where the Americans lost three more games and settled for the bronze medal.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnMZyUQYVnbWeRu.Xu.EKdG8vLYF?slug=teamusaexhibitions&prov=st&type=lgns
LeBron James, Elton Brand and Joe Johnson came up with huge plays in the final minute as the United States basketball team edged Brazil, 90-86, in a warmup for the World Championships in Japan later this month.
The exhibition victory did not come without a price, however, as Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony hyperextended his right knee chasing a loose ball in the second quarter. Anthony, whose 16 points led the U.S., did not return.
"I think he's fine," Team USA assistant coach Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns said. "A couple days' rest and he should be OK."
On Monday, Team USA rolled past China, 119-73, and it appeared it was on its way to an impressive victory in this one after opening a 52-38 lead at the break. But Brazil scored the first 16 points of the second half and hung tough thereafter.
The U.S. held just an 87-86 lead before Cleveland Cavaliers superstar James drove the left baseline and banked in a shot with 34 seconds left, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Brand blocked a shot on the other end. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 20 seconds to go but missed both free throws, giving Brazil a chance to tie.
But Atlanta Hawks guard Johnson stole the ball from Marcelinho Machado and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left, then split two free throws to ice the contest.
"This will help us in the long run," D'Antoni said of the close contest.
Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls scored 14 points, Johnson added 12 and James 11 for the U.S., which was outrebounded, 41-25.
Leandro Barbosa of the Suns scored 14 points and James' Cavaliers teammate Anderson Varejao collected 11 and 16 rebounds for Brazil.
Team USA travels to Seoul to take on Lithuania on Sunday and host Korea on August 15. After those games, coach Mike Krzyzewski is expected to make two cuts to reduce the roster to 12 for the World Championships, which begin August 19.
Krzyzewski also must select a captain and revealed that James, Anthony and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade will receive strong consideration.
At the outset of training camp in July, Krzyzewski - the first college coach put in charge of the national team since the advent of the NBA era in 1992 - said the goal was for the Americans to re-establish themselves as the dominant team in international basketball.
In 2002, the U.S. finished an embarrassing sixth at the World Championships, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars. It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where the Americans lost three more games and settled for the bronze medal.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnMZyUQYVnbWeRu.Xu.EKdG8vLYF?slug=teamusaexhibitions&prov=st&type=lgns