| Kevin Durant Blocks a Spanish Win |
| By Isiah Mungai August 23, 2010 After yesterdays contest against the reigning FIBA World Champion Spain, the United States escaped with a hard fought 86-85 victory. During the game it seemed as if the US was on their way to a blowout win after leading by 12 at halftime and by 11 going into the fourth quarter. Every moment Spain made a run and cut the lead down the US always seemed to have an answer and take it back up to double digits. This tread went throughout the entire game with the US never trailing until Spanish guard Ricky Rubio set up teammate Felipe Reyes for an easy layup with 90 seconds left on the clock for an 82-80 lead. In the next 90 seconds the US tied the score than with a good defensive possession took the ball back and went ahead with 33 seconds left. 6 seconds later Spain took their final lead of the game when Juan Carlos Navarro broke down his defender got fouled and made the layup to tie the score and the preceding free thrown put Spain in a good position to avenge their 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Game loss. With their next possession the US went to point guard Derrick Rose who drew a foul and calmly made both free throws, (a stark difference from the ones he missed that would have won Memphis the 2008 National Championship). With the final possession of the game the United States decided to play a 2-3 zone courtesy of assistant coach Jim Boeheim. The zone caught the Spaniards off guard and they settled for 2 deep shots from Rubio and Rudy Fernandez. Ironically, Boeheim won the 2003 National Championship when Hakim Warrick blocked a Michael Lee 3 pointer, in fitting fashion the escaped this game with Kevin Durant blocked first Rubio and then ran out to Fernandez and blocked his 3 pointer out of bounds as the final buzzer blow. Not only did Durant’s blocks seal the victory he ended the game as the high scorer and rebounder with 25 points and 10 boards. Carlos Navarro led Spain with 20 points. With only a game against Greece this week before the FIBA World Championship starts next Saturday the US have one more opportunity to tune their play and their roster to unseat Spain as FIBA champions. |
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