In their first exhibition leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, the United States national basketball team handled the Dominican Republic to the tune of a 54 point beat down.

The US shot 57% from the field for the game, paced by Kevin Durant who shot 9-11 from the floor including 5-6 from three point range for a game high 24 points. Andre Iguodala added 18 points on 7-9 shooting, Carmelo Anthony scored 13, and Kevin Love had 11 to round out the double figure scorers for the United States.

Anthony Davis, who was called into action today by USA Basketball to take the place of Blake Griffin, who will miss the Olympics with a tear in his meniscus, went 3-4 from the field and scored nine points for the Americans.

A huge strong point for the US was their defense as they allowed the Dominican squad only 32% shooting on the game while forcing 25 turnovers. Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford shot a putrid 1-12 from the field, and Sacramento Kings guard Francisco Garcia went 0-3 from the floor.

Former UAlbany guard Gerardo Suero saw 17 minutes of action, a huge increase from his totals during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, scoring 7 points on 3-6 shooting. Suero played one year as a Great Dane before leaving this spring to pursue opportunities in the professional ranks.

Up next for the United States is game against Brazil on Monday night at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. After that they head to Manchester, England for a game against Great Britain next Thursday, and round out their exhibition schedule against Argentina and Spain in Barcelona on July 22 and 24 leading up to the Olympic Games.

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