USA make statement with China thrashing

Team USA condemned China to a 119-62 defeat in their opening fixture of the Olympic men’s basketball tournament.

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, the only surviving member of the team that finished with the bronze medal in Athens 2004, felt the win sent a “statement to the rest of the world”.

All 12 men on the roster played and scored on Saturday night as coach Mike Krzyzewski started with Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Anthony, Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins.

Durant was the star of the show as the 2014 MVP and seven-time All Star claimed 25 points.

China’s Yi Jianlian did manage the same point haul as the Golden State Warriors new boy, but that was not enough to stop his side slipping to a heavy loss against the gold medal favourites.

Anthony was delighted with the victory and he says the squad are focused on their target in Rio.

“We just wanted to send a statement to the rest of the world,” said the Knicks small forward.

“Come out this first game and let everybody know that we’re focused, we’re locked in and we’re about business on this trip.

“Elsewhere, Australia grabbed an impressive 87-66 win over France, considered serious medal contenders before the start of the tournament, and Serbia dismantled Venezuela 87-62.

Nigeria and Argentina go head-to-head in the final fixture of the first round of games and the African hopefuls are 5.25 to come out on top, with Argentina 1.12. Durant’s Warriors are 1.70 to win the NBA Championship next season and the Knicks can be backed at 51.00.