USA Basketball Beats France in Exhibition at MSG

Filed under: USA Basketball

NEW YORK (AP) -- Even the old guy found something new in the young Americans' debut.



"First time I've been in the Garden and the people have been cheering for me," Chauncey Billups said.



Billups scored 17 points, nine in an early third-quarter flurry that broke open the game, and the United States beat France 86-55 on Sunday in its only home exhibition before the World Championships.



Rudy Gay had 19 points to lead the Americans, who started slowly in their first tuneup before running away from the French in the second half. Billups, one of the few players on the roster with international experience, made three 3-pointers while playing just 15 minutes.



The 33-year-old Billups, who played for the U.S. in the 2007 Olympic qualifier, expected some nerves from a roster that includes five 21-year-olds.



"Now you're really playing a real game," he said. "You're on TV and it doesn't mean that much but internally it does because we're trying to work toward something."



Kevin Durant added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Americans, who open the World Championships in Turkey on Aug. 28 against Croatia.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/08/15/usa-basketball-beats-france-in-exhibition/