The United States prevailed on Tuesday in its second game of the Beijing Olympics men's basketball tournament, exhibiting the NBA-styled fast breaks and slam dunks on its way to romping past Angola 97-76.
Angola proved it not an easy game early first quarter, scoring two points on fast break and a three-pointer to take a 5-2 lead.
But the star-studded US team went on a 6-0 run to lead 14-9 and extended it to 29-18 by the end of the first quarter, scoring four points from Angola's turnovers.
Armando Costa, Angolan guard, regarded the Americans as "very strong and very athletic."
"They are bigger than us and forced us to make many turnovers," he said.
The United States scored a 12-0 run in the second quarter after Angola's 8-0 and took the lead 55-37 at half-time, and 81-53 in the third quarter.
Angola's forward Carlos Morais led all scorers with 24 points followed by US forward Dwyane Wade with 19.
"I wanted to win the game but it was impossible," said Morais.
"I'm motivated," Wade said of his playing in the Olympics. "It was hard work getting here, and I'm enjoying it."
The American team, which since 1992 has included players from the NBA has taken gold in 12 of their 15 Olympic Games participations.
The "Dream Team" has earned an overall win-loss record in Olympic play of 114-5 but the team's most recent Olympic result, a bronze in Athens, was the team's worst ever performance. It also won a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil.
Angola, as the dominant team from Africa, has qualified for five consecutive Olympic Games. The Angolans have also played in five FIBA World Championships.
The United States, beating China 101-70 on Sunday, will take on Greece Thursday when Angola, losing to Germany 95-66, will meet China.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)