Team USA dominates Virgin Islands, wins by 64

by Dansstuff

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Kobe Bryant had nothing to worry about when he was forced to the bench with foul trouble.

Now he has Michael Redd as a backup.

Redd replaced Bryant and hit a flurry of 3-pointers to turn the game into an early rout, and the United States beat the U.S. Virgin Islands 123-59 on Thursday night in the FIBA Americas tournament.

"He's ready to come in at any time," U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Most shooters need time to find their rhythm. He's ready right away and he knows he's subbing for Kobe. Obviously he's a key guy for us and that's something we did not have last year."

Redd and Carmelo Anthony each scored 22 points for the Americans (2-0), who put together a dominant stretch immediately after Bryant went to the bench with his second foul less than 4 minutes into the game on his 29th birthday.

Mike Miller and Amare Stoudemire added 13 points apiece for the Americans, who shot 15-of-30 from 3-point range and had all 12 players score.

"We have so many weapons, we have so many threats, and it just makes our job that much easier," Bryant said. "You just have to come in and plug in the holes when you're called upon, step in and do your job."

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It's about time guy's I miss the Dream Team's Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon.