Team USA survived Brazil 70-68

The shot bounced off the back rim, then the front, then finally fell out.

With that, the United States walked off the court with a victory, and another warning: A world championship won’t come easily for this young team—if it comes at all.

The Americans survived their first tough test in Turkey, edging Brazil 70-68 on Monday when Leandro Barbosa’s(notes) shot rattled out at the buzzer.

“This game right here was an eye opener,” U.S. guard Derrick Rose said.

Kevin Durant(notes) scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups(notes) added 15 for the Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But they have bigger goals than a group championship, trying to end a 16-year U.S. drought in this event.

USA beats Croatia for 2010 World Championship Opener

For weeks, U.S. players have been hearing about what they aren’t.

Not big enough. Not old enough. And maybe even not good enough.
Kevin Durant and Team USA looked solid in their opener at the worlds.
Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

On Saturday, they finally got to show what they believe they can be: the team that ends a 16-year world championship drought.

Kevin Durant scored 14 points and got the United States started on a dominant second-quarter stretch in a 106-78 victory over Croatia in its opening game of the tournament.
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“People aren’t expecting us to come out here and win, so we just wanted to make a statement and I think tonight we did,” Durant said.

Eric Gordon(notes) made four 3-pointers and had 16 points to lead the Americans, who turned a close game into a blowout by limiting the Croatians to six points in the second quarter. Chauncey Billups finished with 12 points.

Team USA 2010, Kevin Durant fought past Lithuania

For the USA basketball squad, the first quarter of the game against Lithuania was a disaster.

In this tuneup for the World Championships, the Americans opened the game by shooting a despicable three of 21 from the field, highlighted by an astoundingly high six turnovers.

Fortunately, the team only trailed 15-7 and recovered from there.

As part of a 17-0 run to cap the third quarter and take the lead for the rest of the game, Eric Gordon made four free throws following a technical foul and a flagrant foul by Lithuania's Mantas Kalneitis.

The top performers for the team were Kevin Durant, who scored 15 points; Russell Westbrook, who had 12 points; and Rudy Gay, who had 14.

Their athleticism was clearly on display throughout the game. With a little over a minute left, Derrick Rose lobbed up an alley-oop pass to Rudy Gay, who finished the play with authority.

Later in the game, Andre Iguodala took the ball down the court before throwing down a tomahawk slam.

The American team—led by starters Rajon Rondo, Kevin Durant, Chauncy Billups, Andre Iguodala, and Tyson Chandler—did end up winning the game 77-61 and will take their undefeated record into the upcoming game against Spain.