Great Britain slumped to a comprehensive 118-78 defeat at the hands of the reigning Olympic Champions Team USA in front of an energetic crowd in Manchester.
The Americans were simply too experienced and dominated the game throughout.
Luol Deng provided some resistance leading all scorers with 25 points while Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams finished with 19 points each.
Lebron James and Kobe Bryant played restricted minutes but James still managed to grab 16 points.
Deng reckons there are improvements the team need to make before the London Olympics.
He said: “ there were a lot of things we did great but we didn’t handle the pressure too well. We have to just keep working as a team and knowing how to play with each other.”
The NBA stars entertained the British public in the first ten minutes with plenty of dazzling dunks and showpiece skills. Kevin Durant leaped to the rim and slammed with authority kick starting the Americans heavy scoring.
Back to back scores from Pops Mensah-Bonsu brought GB within 3 points at 13-10 but Anthony stepped on the floor making immediate impact in a 12 point unanswered burst from team USA.
He collected 11 points scoring two triples to extend the visitors lead into double digits at 33-20.
Anthony began the second quarter with a slam dunk extending USA’s run to 14 points without reply. Deng broke that streak with a strong drive to the basket and Dan Clark stroked in a three point shot to bring the scores to 39-25.
Deng was fouled on the three point line moments later and he completed all three scores from the stripe to cut the deficit to nine points.
The NBA’s most valuable player James came into the game after a short stint in the opening ten minutes. Anthony dished the ball to James and he forcefully finished at the basket to keep the Americans ahead. The two sides exchanged free throws as the half ended 55-37 to the world number one side.
USA ran away with the score in the second half with Williams and James lighting up the scoreboards in the third quarter. Williams, who hit five from six from beyond the arc on the night, sunk three consecutive triples in an 11-0 USA run. James completed that streak with a clean shot off the backboard. After Andrew Lawrence drained a three pointer for GB, James rattled the rim with a thunderous dunk to open up a 40-point advantage. Britain’s Kyle Johnson and his opposite Russell Westbrook traded triples before Anthony scored at the buzzer giving the USA an unassailable lead at 89-55.
With the game decided, the Americans provided a showboating spectacle as Westbrook, Kevin Love and number one NBA draft pick Anthony Davis exchanged flashy finishing moves to complete the rout.
