U.S. Team Tops Puerto Rico, Clinches Spot in Semifinals

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 28, 2007 -- The Americans made Athens look like ancient history.

Three years after its stunning loss in the Olympics, the United States smothered Puerto Rico in a 117-78 victory Tuesday night in the FIBA Americas tournament.

LeBron James scored 21 points and Carmelo Anthony added 17 for the Americans, who clinched a spot in Saturday's semifinals -- where a win would earn them a berth in the Beijing Olympics.
Michael Redd had 15 points and Kobe Bryant 14. He also set up James for a pair of powerful dunks, thrusting his arms in the air like a quarterback who had just thrown a touchdown pass after both.

Puerto Rico handed the United States a 92-73 loss, its worst ever, in the 2004 games. Current U.S. stars Anthony, James and Amare Stoudemire were all in Greece and watched Carlos Arroyo and the rest of the Puerto Ricans torch the Americans for 56 percent shooting.

The Americans ended any hopes of a repeat with their latest sensational second quarter and remained unbeaten in this event. They came in just about at the 117.6 points they were averaging coming into the game.

The United States plays Uruguay on Wednesday before closing second-round play Thursday night against follow unbeaten Argentina. But even with losses in those two games, the Americans would still be guaranteed a spot Saturday.

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source : NBA.com