Advertisement

USA 105, Canada 61

By BILL STEWART

PORTLAND, Ore. -- For about 16 minutes Monday, the U.S men's Olympic basketball team showed they can play as badly as anyone else.

'I don't think we came out quite as energetic as we did yesterday,' U.S. coach Chuck Daly said after his team recovered to trounce Canada 105-61 in its second game in the Tournament of the Americas qualifying event. 'We let them hang around a little bit, but then we picked it up, particularly in the second half.'

Advertisement

Charles Barkley scored 19 points and Karl Malone added 15 as the U.S. raised its record to 2-0. The team can clinch a berth in the quarterfinals with a victory Tuesday against Panama.

Barkley said motivation will not be aproblem.

'Panama? We're going to get the canal back,' he said. 'Honestly, I think the simple fact is we just want to win. If you're mentally prepared, I don't believe it makes any difference what the other teams does.'

Advertisement

The Canadians saw their record drop to 1-2 and are in danger of missing the quarterfinal round.

'The teams that we are going to play are going to be so pumped that they will automatically stay with you for a while, but I suspect our overall talent will take over in the second half,' Barkley said. 'I don't think we will blow teams out in the first half and be leading by 40 or 50 points. I am more comfortable with a 15- or 17-point lead at the half, and then blow them out in the second half.'

After the U.S. crushed Cuba by 79 points Sunday, another rout was expected Monday, especially since Cuba beat Canada on the opening day of the tournament.

The Americans, however, missed five of their first seven shots and though they wound up hitting 48 percent of their shots by intermission, many of their 22 misses came from close range.

In addition, the U.S. hit just 62 percent of its free throws in the first half, and made several uncharacteristic errors, at least two of which were not counted as turnovers.

When Canada's Mike Smrek went in for a dunk over David Robinson to cut the U.S. lead to 37-28, the few Canadian fans in the stands had something to cheer about.

Advertisement

When asked how it felt to dunk on Robinson, Smrek said, 'It's best not to comment about David Robinson, because he did it to me and we're going to have to meet again.'

The Americans responded with 11 straight points, including 6 from Malone, to take a 48-28 lead.

Early in the second half, the Americans reeled off 15 unaswered points and the outcome was seeled with the U.S. ahead 71-40.

The U.S. didn't stretch its lead to 40 points until the 3:06 mark of the second half, when Barkley hit one of two free throws to make it 99- 59.

Malone added 15 points and six rebounds. Michael Jordan, coming off a subpar first game, had 14 points and six rebounds. Chris Mullin and Magic Johnson had 13 points apiece, and Johnson led all players with eight assists.

Canada, which made just 34 percent of its shots, was led by Smrek with 14 points.

'It is the hardest we have played, but it is so tough to win against the USA,' Smrek said. 'They are strong at every position. It would take an absolute supreme effort from some team to beat them, although it can be done.'

Advertisement

The U.S. played without the services of Larry Bird, who sat out with a sore back. However, team officials said it was not serious.

Guard John Stockton missed most of the game suffering a bruised right calf after he collided with Jordan.

'I don't really know how it happened,' Stockton said. 'Michael was just coming across and he kneed me.'

The Americans got an unexpected lift, however, when Patrick Ewing returned to the lineup two games earlier than first anticipated.

'He came yesterday and said he was ready and Dr. (Norman) Scott said he was ready to play so we went ahead and gave him some minutes to get him involved,' Daly said.

Ewing logged 14 minutes of action, scoring 6 points and grabbing two rebounds.

Latest Headlines