LAS VEGAS — The U.S. Olympic Team received an expected blowout victory but an unexpected personnel loss.
Team USA romped by 54 points over the John Calipari-coached Dominican Republic 113-59 last night at UNLV in its first exhibition game before a sold-out crowd of 18,500. But earlier in the day the team received awful news with Blake Griffin’s left knee injury stemming from Wednesday’s scrimmage that forced him back to Los Angeles for tests. The Clippers website reported he had a torn meniscus and that’s expected to knock him out of the Olympics.
Tyson Chandler — the lone true center on the roster — already was without a lot of big-man support and it has just gotten worse. It was so bad Carmelo Anthony started at center to open the second half. (Chandler started the game). No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis was summoned to Vegas to replace Griffin and played, hitting a 3-pointer in the final minute.
Chandler and Anthony were both in the starting lineup. Chandler scored seven points (3-for-3 from the field, all on dunks, all in the second half) in 15 minutes. He also had five rebounds and one block.
Despite missing several scrimmages because of his contract, Nets point guard Deron Williams had a solid game with six points and 10 assists and found Chandler for a late dunk inside. Anthony finished with 13 points in 13 minutes (3-for-6 from the field,, 7-for-8 from the line, five rebounds) in 13 minutes.
But a small Team USA squad just got smaller.
“There’s a lot of things being said right now,’’ Anthony said afterward. “We hear what’s being said. We’re trying to work on that and shut everyone up that we’re small. Too small.’’
Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski had yet to hear from the Clippers but said he realizes the team has to rebound collectively and their smaller players have to play big.
“Tyson’s important no matter what,’’ Krzyzewski said. “Whether Blake is here or not, because he’s our tallest guy and Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA. Tonight you saw us playing guys in positions that they normally don’t play in the NBA, guarding the 4 and 5. I thought Melo, Durant, [Andre] Iguodala did a good job playing big.’’
Griffin injured his knee in Wednesday’s scrimmage and underwent tests yesterday with Clippers doctors. There was no official diagnosis but Griffin reportedly has told confidants he will be ready for training camp. Griffin and Kevin Love were to see time at center, and Anthony had been told by Mike Krzyzewski to be prepared to see time there, too.
Anthony scored on the first possession on a fastbreak dunk and a layup, scoring five of team USA’s first eight points. He had nine at halftime, making 5 of 6 free throws.
But it was Kevin Durant who lit up the first half, bagging 21 points in 13:07, making 5 of 6 3-pointers from the comfier international distance of 22.1 feet. Durant, who seemed to be clearly motivated after losing in the NBA Finals just a couple of weeks ago, finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Al Horford was Dominican Republic’s lone marquee player, and he had a terrible shooting night at 1 of 12.
