Kevin Durant scorches Lithuania for 38 big ones. Russell Westbrook was Robin to Durant's Batman with 12 pts, 7 rbds, 3 assists (oops, 3 TO's), 2 blocks and 1 steal.
Game highlights video is up! Courtesy of slirintz from You Tube.
Nice work from Russell and Kevin Love ... yeah OK, from Durant and Lamar Odom, too.
UCLA Bruin reference at the 13:24 mark on a Russell drive to the hoop.
Kevin Durant's 38 points led the USA over Lithuania, 89-74, for a berth in the gold medal game of the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey. Photo: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty ImagesKevin Durant’s Record Setting Performance Leads USA To 89-74 Win Over Lithuania
USA Basketball website
Sept. 11, 2010 • Istanbul, Turkey
Stats • Photos
There was no stopping Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) and the U.S. rode his record setting 38 point performance to earn an 89-74 win over previously unbeaten Lithuania (7-1) Saturday night in World Championship semifinals play. The win advanced the Americans into Sunday’s 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal game.
Durant, who had 17 of the USA’s 23 first quarter points to single-handedly outscore Lithuania over the first 10 minutes, rewrote three USA World Championship single game records and tied another. His 38 points established a new USA scoring high, improving on the previous record of 35 points that was set by Carmelo Anthony (versus Italy, 8-23-06). Additionally, Durant set U.S. World Championship records for made field goals with 14, bettering the previous record of 13 that was set by five players and last done by Dwyane Wade (versus Argentina, 9-2-06); and his 25 attempted field goals set a new record, bettering the previous mark of 21 set by Kenny Anderson (vs. Greece, 8-8-90) and Billy Owens (vs. Greece, 8-8-90). He also tied a USA record for 3-point field goals attempted with 12, the mark was originally set by Mark Price (versus Greece, 8-13-94).
“I was just trying to be aggressive. That’s all. I was trying to make some shots and my teammates, they kept looking for me. It’s not all me. It’s how they play and I just feed off it,” Durant said of his record setting night.
“When a guy is doing that well, you have to keep getting him the ball,” said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University). “His teammates were looking for him all the time and we kept telling him, ‘keep shooting, keep shooting’, which says a lot for the guys on our team. All they are concerned with is trying to win. He just had an incredible scoring night.”
The USA will face host and undefeated Turkey (8-0) in Sunday’s gold medal game (9:30 p.m. local time). Turkey scored with .05 seconds left in the game to claim the 83-82 win.
It’s been 16 years since the USA played in World Championship gold medal game. The last time the U.S. did so was 1994 when the U.S., led by Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller and Dominique Wilkins, dominated the worlds and finished 8-0 to capture the world championship title.
“We told our team coming in that they (Lithuania) will play every possession and never give up. We have to play as hard as they did. I thought tonight we did play as hard as they did. It showed in our defense. I think Andre’s defense was a key part of this game,” said Coach K.
The USA trailed 11-9 with 5:22 to play in the opening stanza and Lithuania did not score another field goal the remainder of the quarter while Durant poured in 10 points during a 12-0 USA run that left the U.S. leading 21-11 with 2:14 left in the quarter.
Up 23-12 after the first 10 minutes, the U.S. opened a 29-14 lead following an offensive tip by Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers).
Lithuania got eight points from former Duke guard Martynas Pocius and outscored the U.S. 11-4 to slash the American’s advantage to eight points, 33-25.
The USA regained control and closed the half with a 9-2 offensive spurt. Fueled by five points from Durant and four from that Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), the Americans pushed ahead 42-27.
Lithuania struggled to get its shots to fall in the first half and made just 9-of-36 tries, including 3-of-12 from 3-point.
The U.S. lead was cut to 10, 50-40, with 5:42 to play in the third following a 3-pointer from Mantas Kalnietis, but the USA, getting points from four different players, went on a 9-0 run and with 3:09 left in the third quarter had it largest lead of the night, 59-40.
The U.S. entered the fourth quarter holding a 65-53 lead and with 5:53 left in the game it the scoreboard read 73-62 in favor of the Americans.
Durant stepped up again and closed the deal for the U.S. Hitting a mid-distance jumper, then following a pair of free throws from Westbrook, Durant hit a 3-pointer to score his 36th point, and he finished off his night’s production with a jumper to push the USA ahead 84-67.
Durant in addition to posting big scoring numbers, also brought down nine rebounds. He was complimented on his record setting night by Odom, who finished with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, and by Westbrook’s 12 points and seven rebounds. Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers) finished with nine points, four rebounds and four steals, and played a major role in shutting down Lithuania’s leading scorer Linas Kleiza, who will play for the NBA Toronto Raptors in 2010-11. Kleiza, who came into the game averaging a Lithuania best 19.1 points a game, was limited to four points on 1-of-11 shooting.
“The coaches pretty much send me out to slow down the #1 guy on the team as far as their scorer,” said Iguodala who leads the U.S. team in steals averaging 2.0 steal per game. “Tonight, I just tried to make it tough for him. There are great ball players all across the world and you’re not going to stop all of them, but if you make it tough for them, maybe you’ll wear them down, start making them think about it.”
In Saturday’s game to determine the seventh place finisher, Russia (6-3) finished strong to take an 83-78 victory over Slovenia (5-4).
The 2010 USA World Championship Team assistant coaches are Syracuse University’s Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan and Toronto Raptors head mentor Jay Triano.
The 2010 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) World Championship for Men is being held Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Istanbul, Turkey. Twenty-four teams competed in the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Men.
Additional Quotes >> USA 89, Lithuania 74
Sept. 11, 2010 • Istanbul, Turkey
Krzyzewski
USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University)
About the game:
First I want to congratulate Lithuania for a being part with us in a great game. I don’t think any team in this tournament has played with any more heart than the Lithuanian team or has played every minute as hard as their team. We told our team coming in that they will play every possession and never give up. We have to play as hard as they did. I thought tonight we did play as hard as they did. It showed in our defense. I think Andre’s defense was a key part of this game. We had that 19-point lead in the third quarter yet they are not going to give up. They hit six 3’s. Our guys weathered that storm where as a lot of teams: France, Canada, Spain … they did not weather that storm. Argentina (also). We feel like we beat an outstanding team … very well-coached and a country that loves basketball as much as any country in the world. I would particularly that it was an honor to play against Lithuania and also to watch one of my former players represent his country in Martynas Pocious in such a high fashion. I told him after the game that he was magnificent and he was.
Thoughts on Lamar’s adjustment to the center position in this tournament and what he’s meant to your team:
I think you made a good point in bringing up Lamar. He was kind of an unsung hero tonight. His defense, boards and just his presence out on the court. The fact that he’s such a good basketball player and we have relegated him to the post and he’s adjusted to that, especially defensively. Defensively, he’s done a great job and rebounding. But, he and Chauncey have been our leaders and in moments in where a team has come back or are on a run, what Lamar and Chauncey say is really significant in helping our young team … because the other guys are pretty young.
How has Kevin Durant been as a leader?
He’s not so much a vocal leader. That’s what Chauncey and Lamar have done. We don’t want him to do that. We want him to do what he did tonight and just concentrate on being an outstanding player. What Andre said about him: he’s such a good guy. Our team was so happy for him as he was scoring those points. His work ethic is a matter of how you lead and how easy he is to coach.
Could you tell early that this was going to be a special night for Kevin?
When a guy is doing that well, you have to keep getting him the ball. That’s why I said about his teammates because his teammates were looking for him all the time we kept telling him, ‘keep shooting, keep shooting’, which says a lot for the guys on our team. All they are concerned with is trying to win. He had a special night. When they went zone, we just tried to move him around in different spots but most of that was on him. He just had an incredible scoring night.
What do you know about either team you may play tomorrow?
I haven’t watched them enough. I’d really not comment on either team because I was so consumed with watching Lithuania … I thought they could beat us and all I know is that playing Turkey – if we played them – they are huge and they are on their home court. Serbia would be undefeated if they didn’t have their suspensions. I saw a little bit of their game, one of their medal round games and they’re very good shooters. But, I don’t know enough about (them) to really say how we would do them or anything like that.
What made you use Russell Westbrook so much in the fourth quarter?
The zone. The zone. I thought with Andre and Derrick out there … they were playing off those two guys … then it became more difficult for Chauncey to get a look or Kevin Durant. When you put Russell in, he can really penetrate against any defense. So you have that and his defense. And Eric, who has been our best shooter outside of Kevin Durant. So, Chauncey at the point in that situation is something that we’ve talked about as a team and as a coaching staff. We just went to that and it was a good thing to go to.
What is your view now that you’re in the Championship Game?
We’re honored to be in the championship game, especially at this World Championship. There have been so many great games in this World Championship. For us to be one of the two teams that will be able to play for it. It’s such a great venue and Istanbul and the people of Turkey have put on this championship so well. And, I really want to say again, we beat a great team tonight. This was a hard fought game. We beat an outstanding team in order to get there. We feel we’ve earned it and now you hope that you can take advantage of that moment but it will be difficult.
I think it was an emotional day for our team because obviously you remember over 3000 people who died on that day and it’s a sad day for our country. I have friends who were killed on that day and I have friends who have family that were killed on that day. It was an emotional day for us but I think we’ve played hard the whole tournament. It was just a little bit more emotional for us today.
Durant
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
On making it to the World Championship finals:
It feels good. We haven’t been in the finals in a while. Hopefully we’ll do our jobs and try to bring it back.
On your record-setting scoring performance:
I was just trying to be aggressive. That’s all. I was trying to make some shots and my teammates, they kept looking for me. It’s not all me. It’s how they play and I just feed off it.
Kevin Durant on scoring 38 points in U.S. win
Did playing on Sept. 11 mean something to you?
It did. It did. 9-11 back in the States, it hit us hard and kind of brought us together as a nation. To play on this day was important … for us to get the win was even better. We’re excited to play on this day. Glad we brought this back to the U.S. Now we have one more to go.
Talk about the significance of your big game on Sept. 11:
I just wanted to remember everybody back in the States and everybody that was affected by 9-11. To play on this day is a great honor. We just tried to do our best to play hard for our country and our families and everyone affected by 9-11. It was kind of emotional for us all to take the court on this date but I’m glad we got the job done.
What does your 38-point performance mean?
It doesn’t mean too much. I just want to move on and I think it will only hit me if we come back with the gold.
How comfortable have you been taking on the scoring role on this team?
They told me I had to be so I figured I’d better step up. They ran plays for me and I got to convert. I was excited to take on this role and I’m very happy we have one more to go but we have to keep fighting.
Who encouraged you to take on this role?
My teammates, Coach did a great job of sitting me down and telling me what he needs from me and my family. My mom always told me to be myself. My brother always said to be myself and it came natural to me.
What does it mean to you for a guy like Coach K when he came back to coach the USA team?
It’s unbelievable. For a great guy like him, a hall of fame coach who has done everything, who has own gold medals, who has won national championships, he could have easily said I did all I could do in this game and I’m ready to hang ‘em up. For him to say that and try to come out here and win a World Championship speaks volumes to me. He’s such a great coach. It’s an honor to play for him.
What have you learned about Coach K?
He’s a great motivator. No matter what he always tell us that we have to respect our opponents and have to play our hardest and we’ll live with the results. I love a guy like that.
What do you think the role of the home crowd will be in the final when the USA plays Turkey?
It’s going to be a tough environment but we’ve been playing in those type of environments our whole careers. Just about everybody here has been in the playoffs and its going to be just like that.
Gay
Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies)
How well are you guys playing right now as far as what you expected and where you were a couple weeks ago?
We’re playing good. Kevin is playing great obviously, keeping us in there. He’s keeping us there right now.
What can you say about Andre’s defense on Kleiza?
Well, he definitely forced him into tough shots. Basically, he took him out of the game. That’s one of the things he can do. Everyone is playing a role here and that’s one of his roles and he’s doing it well.
What about playing for a World Championship?
It feels good. We kind of have our backs against the wall but it’s a great feeling. We have a chance to make history.
Was the defense the key tonight?
It had to be. Dre played great defense on Kleiza, who is basically the heart and soul of their offense and he took him out of the game.
What about Kevin’s performance?
You just have those things when everything you do, you can do no wrong. That’s been these past two games for him. He’s playing great. He’s been hitting every shot and making plays. He’s doing everything.
Gordon
Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers)
On the game:
Defense is what really won this game. We really played good defense and converted on the other end, whether its fast break points. That was a game where the flow of the offense wasn’t running that well but we really played good defense.
Thoughts on Andre’s defense tonight:
He really helped us out tonight. Kleiza is a big time scorer and if he ain’t going the other team’s not rolling. It was good for him to help us out like that.
What about Kevin Durant’s performance tonight?
He hit a lot of tough shots. Its pretty natural for him to do that because he can shoot over them and he can put it on the floor.
Thoughts going into the World Championship final?
Just go all out and lay it all on the line tomorrow and be ready to head back home.
Is this one of the more exciting things you’ve done in your career?
This will top everything probably.
Igoudala
Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers)
On the game:
Tonight the guys did a really good job at being focused for this game. We’ve done a great job taking it one at a time. It starts with the coaching staff who has done an unbelievable job of staying up late at night, watching film and put together a game. And once we get here, we just try to execute that game plan. Tonight it showed. Kevin Durant was beautiful. It was fun to watch, just being out there. I think that physically he understands what he needs to do to win games.
On your defense on Linas Kleiza:
The coaches pretty much send me out to slow down the #1 guy on the team as far as their scorer. It’s kind of the same way as the NBA. In the NBA, it’s hard to stop somebody. There’s not too much handchecking so I just try to slow guys down. There is no such thing as stopping them. Here they let you play a little more defense so it kind of suits me more. Tonight, I just tried to make it tough for him. There are great ball players all across the world and you’re not going to stop all of them, but if you make it tough for them, maybe you’ll wear them down, start making them think about it.
On playing on September 11:
It something all the guys discussed. We talked about this yesterday actually. September 11 – a day that goes down in every history book across the world. People want to know about this day until it’s over with. We just wanted to play with some pride, play with some heart just like we’ve been doing every other game. This is a significant date, just like any other day for any other country. It was a tragedy though … some guys had 9-11 on their shoes. We put our hands across our hearts during the national anthem. That one was dedicated to everybody back home, everybody who lost a loved one in that tragic event.
About KEvin Durant's performance:
He’s one of the best scorers in the league. I stated a couple of weeks ago that when he’s done playing basketball, he’ll be an alltime leader scorer in NBA history. He averaged 30 points at age of 21 in the NBA. Just think he has 12 or 13 more years of that. The kid can score, he’s seven feet tall, he can handle the ball, he can shoot the 3, post up and he’s only going to get better. The sky’s the limit on that guy. The best part about him is that he’s a good kid, a good guy. He enjoys playing basketball. He enjoys working out. He might even work out too much. But, he’s young. He can do that. I’ll be a fan of his for a long time.
On team defense:
You see guys when they come in the game and they are like ‘I am going to get after it the same way. I don’t want to let him down. He locked him down and I’m going to come in and do the same thing. Russell Westbrook has been the guy off the bench who is locking guys down the same way.
Do you feel the level of your team going up every time out now?
It’s definitely a plus for our team is that we have been playing as long as these teams, together as a group so the more we play together, the better it is experience wise and for us to come together more.
Love
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
On the game:
We really came out and executed the game plan. Kevin Durant, obviously had a tremendous game. You look at what Andre Iguodala did. Linas Kleiza, really their best player, shot one for 11. He just played tremendous the whole game. We were excited with the way we executed on the defensive end. Like I mentioned on the offensive end, we really had transition buckets and everything else.
What about Kevin’s performance?
He’s 6-11, he’s extremely long. He’s about a 7-4 wingspan. It’s so tough because he can shoot right over you regardless of who is playing him. You put a guard on him, he’s going to shoot right over you. If you put a big on him, he’s going to go right around them. He’s almost impossible to guard and shut down and that’s why he’s the youngest scoring champ of all time.
Thoughts on the Gold Medal game:
We’re extremely excited. We know it’s going to be either Turkey or Serbia. We’re going to go back, get a good meal in us and watch that game and we’ll just prepare for whatever is ahead of us, whatever team is ahead of us. We’re just going to get a good night’s rest and tomorrow we’re going to go over the game plan. We get one shot at this thing so we’re very excited.
Odom
Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers)
On the game:
It was tough. That team, they make you fight, they make you beat them. I respect them. We were able to find a way to get stops. Kevin (Durant) got hot and we rode him … what a job Andre Iguodala did on (Linas) Kleiza tonight. It takes a team effort to win. Tomorrow we’re going to need all 12 guys to beat one of these two teams.
On his inside play:
We have so many perimeter scorers on this team that I think the defense, they can’t help but lean towards these guys and I’m just trying to play behind them and make some plays when these guys miss a shot. If they drive and penetrate, just be there to finish really quick. That team really makes you work. I respect them a lot.
What can you say about Kevin Durant’s performance tonight?
Amazing. It’s why he’s the league’s leading scorer without even really driving. He really hurt them and put them under pressure.
What’s the key to the Gold Medal Game tomorrow night?
We’re going to have to play better than we did tonight. That’s going to have to be the focus … just striving for perfection … trying to be perfect.
Would it be easier to play in front of a big crowd if Turkey advances?
We want to play against the team that is going to play the best tonight, whoever that may be. Doesn’t really matter to us at this point.
What are your feelings about getting this title?
Anxious. Yet we have to remain poised and stay focused so we can make the steps to attain our goal. Play hard and just keep pushing. Right now, we’re striving to be perfect.
Rose
Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Was tonight your best game?
I think our best game was probably the game against Angola, but (tonight) showed our hearts, showed our composure where different people stepped up like Andre and Kevin Durant. Andre with his defense, he shut down their best scorer and Kevin Durant, you already know, we look to him for scoring. He played great That’s why he is one of the best in the NBA.
How much fun was that game tonight?
Fun, man. Just watching them. Coach put in a starting five where they play well together and it was just fun watching KD, watching Lamar Odom … just watching everybody play good, pass the ball to each other and play defensively.
Is defense always going to be the key for this team?
Defense wins championships, offense wins games. I think every game if we establish ourselves as a defensive team, knowing that we’re going to be aggressive the whole game, I think we should be successful to win the World Championship.
What does it mean to you to get to the Gold Medal game?
It means a lot. By winning it will mean even more. When you’re younger, you think about being in the NBA but you don’t think about playing in the World Championships or winning a Gold Medal. I really don’t know how I should feel or how it’s going to feel if we do have a chance to win it. I know it’s going to be a good feeling.
Westbrook
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
On the doubts the team faced coming into the tournament:
We never worried about what anybody was saying. We always believe in ourselves and believed we come out and get a win.
What about the energy you provided tonight?
I just try to come in and do what I can to change the tempo of the game, defending, rebounding, steals, whatever it is to get us going, to get us a comfortable lead.
What are you thoughts going into the World Championship?
Just have fun. A lot of us have never been in this position and we just want to go out and have some fun and play like it’s another game.
What about the success of the Thunder players in this tournament?
It’s great for the franchise and our city. We came here to represent our country and our team as well.
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