by John Hobbs / @johnswisshobbs
The USA players refused to get caught up with records being broken. They’re in London to get wins. Nothing else.
The 156-73 win over Nigeria will be talked about for years to come as the USA drained a record 29 three-pointers out of 46 attempts. Carmelo Anthony, who hit 10 threes and totaled 37 points to break Stephon Marbury’s Olympic scoring record of 31 points.
The Knicks shooter only needed 14 minutes to break the USA Olympic scoring record. He was one point off Kevin Durant’s all-time scoring record of 38, which KD set at the 2010 World Championships against Lithuania.
“It was just one them nights where as a unit we had it going on,” Anthony said. “It could have been anybody on the court playing against us but when we shoot like that, shoot that well the percentages that we shot out there tonight was just incredible.”
The win improved Team USA to 3-0, thus qualifying them for the quarter-finals, while the Nigerians can still advance even though they drop to 1-2.
“For us we just want to get better each and every game,” LeBron James said. “We feel like we did that and no matter what our competition is we want to get better and we accomplished that.
“It’s an honor to be a part of such a great team, and to able to brake records and I’m happy to be part of it.”
No doubt, this was as ruthless a showing as you will ever see from a United States side in the Olympics, the US shot more three-pointers than two-pointers and everyone except LeBron and Tyson Chandler hit from deep.
“We just shot the ball better than any team in any game that I’ve ever coached,” Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said afterward, with a smile.
“Our guys just couldn’t miss and they shared the ball and we had 41 assists and when you hit 29 threes, it’s very difficult to lose in a game like that.”
NEW US OLYMPIC RECORDS
Most points scored: 156
Most points scored in the first half: 78
Most three-pointers made: 29
Most three-points attempted: 46
Most three-pointers by an individual: Carmelo Anthony (10)
Most points scored by an individual (in Olympics): Carmelo Anthony (37 points)
