Friday, August 01, 2008

    Deron Williams had eight points and five assists and Carlos Boozer finished with three points and three rebounds as the U.S. thumped Lithuania 120-84 Friday as part of its Olympic warm-up tour in Macau.

    Williams played 24 minutes and had his best moments in the third quarter, driving the lane against Lithuania's zone defense. Boozer played the final 7 1-2 minutes and was the last player off the U.S. bench.

    The U.S. is averaging 118 points through its three exhibition victories. Williams and Boozer will see a familiar face in Jazz teammate Andrei Kirilenko when the Americans next play Sunday against Russia (1 a.m. MDT) in Shanghai.

    Lithuania beat the U.S. at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, and came into Friday's game as FIBA's fifth-ranked team in the world.

    The U.S. pounced on Lithuania from the opening minute Friday. Kobe Bryant set the tone by hounding former NBA guard Sarunas Jasikevicius on defense and Dwight Howard powered his way to 10 points in the first quarter.

    The U.S. led 6-0, 14-2 and 21-5 in the first quarter. By the time Williams even checked into the game, the Americans were in front by 18. They led 31-15 at the end of the first quarter after a Chris Bosh dunk.

    Paul again was the U.S.'s primary backup point guard while Williams played at off guard. Williams did get the chance to play point guard in the second quarter as part of a lineup with Bryant, Howard, LeBron James and Michael Redd.

    After trailing by 17 at halftime, Lithuania closed within nine as Jasikevicius (nine points, six turnovers) knocked down a three-pointer with seven minutes left in the third quarter to make it 61-52.

    The Lithuanians were able to climb back in the game thanks to their zone defense and three-point shooting. But the Americans recovered quickly, going inside to Carmelo Anthony for a three-point play and Howard for a dunk.

    After turning two steals into dunks, the U.S. went on to restore its lead to 20 in less than three minutes. Dwyane Wade led the U.S. with 19 points while Howard added 17. Redd hit four three-pointers on the way to 16 points.

    In the third quarter, Williams drove the lane and hit James with a nifty pass. James scored and was fouled but couldn't complete the three-point play. Williams suffered the same fate himself when he scored on a drive later in the quarter.

    Boozer got his only basket with 3 1-2 minutes to play when he stole the ball at midcourt and went in for a dunk. Williams made 3 of 4 shots in the game while Boozer was 1 of 2.

   --Ross Siler