Anthony Davis has not even played in an NBA game but the first pick in June's NBA Draft showed he has earned the respect of his US Olympic NBA peers in a 110-63 American rout of Tunisia.
Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love each scored 16 points yesterday while Kevin Durant added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Russell Westbrook netted 11 as the US NBA stars seized the Group A lead at 2-0 with four rivals at 1-1 and Tunisia winless.
Davis, a US college star for Kentucky, scored 12 points in 13 minutes off the bench that included three spectacular leaping one-handed slam dunks in the third quarter after US coach Mike Krzyzewski put him in the game.
"Real great to play with these guys," Davis said. "Coach K took me out and 'Melo got mad and said, 'Leave him in.' I am glad I have earned these guys' respect. Coach had a lot of confidence in me and hopefully it continues on."
African champions Tunisia, led by Macram Ben Romdhane's game highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds, took a 15-12 lead late in the first quarter before the Americans scored the next 14 points to seize the advantage for good.
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"We figured it out," Anthony said. "We didn't get worried. We knew we could take them."
Next up for the US multi-millionaire lineup is a date with Nigeria on Thursday.
The US NBA squad led 46-33 at half-time and scored the first 10 points of the third quarter. They kept up a defence so intense that even when Deron Williams lost his left shoe he scrambled around the court to guard foes.