Next Up: Trip to Olympics for U.S. Basketball Team

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Published on August 2 2016 6:33 am
Last Updated on August 2 2016 6:33 am

By ESPN

There were no bumps on this road to Rio. Next up for the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team is the trip to Brazil, where the Americans think they can play even better now that they're done having to go place to place.

"As a team, I think you're going to see a much different team over there," Carmelo Anthony said.

Anthony scored 19 points and the U.S. wrapped up its unbeaten exhibition tour with a 110-66 victory over Nigeria on Monday night.

The Americans weren't quite as potent this time but were dominant defensively after pouring on the points in a record-setting romp over the Nigerians four years ago. They forced the African champions to miss their first 22 3-point shots and held them to 4 for 29 behind the arc.

Klay Thompson had 17 points and Kevin Durant added 14 for the U.S., which went 5-0 and wasn't tested during its easy five-city, pre-Olympic schedule. The U.S. men and women -- who arrived in Houston earlier Monday and attended the game -- are scheduled to fly Tuesday night to Rio de Janeiro, where both will be favored to repeat as Olympic basketball champions.

"We leave tomorrow night and then it's off, hopefully, to a gold medal," U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.