It wasn't pretty early—a 3-of-25 start from the field never is—but talent and depth won out as Team USA beat Lithuania, 77-61, in an exhibition in advance of the World Basketball Championship.
The Americans started sloppy and hesitant, as the Lithuanians hounded Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose on defense and forced the American guards to beat them with jump shots in the first half. But as the game wore on, the athleticism and stifling defense that helped keep the U.S. in the game when shots were not falling helped them blow it open when the offense's problems relented. A late 17-0 run put the game out of reach.
We will add more to this StoryStream if and when a box score appears.