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MADRID, Spain -- Coach Mike Krzyzewski had no problem identifying what the United States needs to improve ahead of the basketball world championship coming off its 77-61 exhibition victory over Lithuania. Adrian Wilson Jersey . "Everything," the Duke coach said from Madrids "Magic Box" centre on Saturday. The U.S. laboured through a poor first period, hitting 3 of 21 from the field and making six turnovers, before settling down and feeding off the energy of its reserves to overcome a tough opponent. Krzyzewski said its all part of the growing process ahead of the Aug. 28-Sept. 12 tournament in Turkey. "We have to keep improving in every area as a team, including getting to know one another," he said. "Theres not that continuity or chemistry -- theres the attitude, a great attitude to get to know each other, which is why games like this are so important and the game tomorrow is so important." The U.S. plays defending world champion Spain on Sunday in a rematch of the 2008 Olympic final. The Americans won the gold medal, but not one player from that team is on this one, explaining the early nerves and poor shooting that left the U.S. trailing 15-7 after the first period. "I thought we were a little tight and they played well defensively," Krzyzewski said. The Americans regained their composure against an equally poor-shooting opponent, taking the lead for good at 54-49 after Lithuania was assessed a technical and flagrant foul by Mantas Kalnietis near the end of the third period. It was part of a 17-0 U.S. run led by Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon. Kevin Durant led the U.S. with 15 points, while Linas Kleiza had 12 for Lithuania, which hit 25 of 62 to the Americans 27-of-58 shooting. Rudy Gays entry helped spark the U.S. in the first half, but it was the play of Westbrook and Gordon in the third quarter that gave the U.S. cushion it needed. Gay finished with 14 points and five rebounds, and Gordon nine points. "I thought (Derrick) Rose, Gordon and Gay really picked us up," Krzyzewski said. "But you have to have that energy at the start of a ball game, we have to start out strong." Gay ended a 6-0 run by Lithuania, with the Memphis Grizzlies forward scoring from the right before blocking Paulius Jankunas one-handed slam attempt. Westbrook, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds, also played a key role in his bid to make the team, as Krzyzewski must drop his roster by one player to 12 before the Aug. 28-Sept. 12 worlds in Turkey. "I try to go out and not pay attention to whats happening with the cuts and whose getting cut," said Westbrook, Durants teammate on the Oklahoma City Thunder. "The key for me and the rest of the team is coming out and having a defensive mindset. If we defend our offence will take care of itself." Part of the early turnover problem was a slippery floor, which Krzyzewski put down to all the recently laid advertising. "Any court where you just put those logos on, those are dangerous," Krzyzewski said. "It gets real slippery for the players and tonight the floor was very slippery and thats a concern. But thats not why we shot poorly." Stephen Curry overcame a left ankle injury to play, but Rose left the game early after getting poked in the eye and would be evaluated Sunday. Durant said the excitement of getting started in the Spanish capital added to his poor night. He is one of the five 21-year-olds on an inexperienced roster for the U.S., which is trying to win its first world championship title since 1994. "It was a tough one," Durant said. "But we fought through it." Premier Clay Matthews Jersey .Y. -- A nagging injury is preventing linebacker Shawne Merriman from getting off on the right foot with his new team, the Buffalo Bills. San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates Jersey . Former US President Jimmy Carter applauds after the building completion of a house during the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project 2009, as part of the Habitat for Humanity program, in Chiang Mai province, north of Bangkok, November 16, 2009. Tom Brady Patriots Jersey Authentic . Derek Hulak added an empty net insurance marker. Goaltender Steven Stanford was pulled after allowing two goals on seven shots. Adam Morrison turned aside 23 in relief. T.J. Foster, Tyler Hlookoff, Michael Burns and Garry Nunn scored for Edmonton (16-39-13), while Cam Lanigan stopped 43 shots in net, including 33 by the end of the second period. Chicago White Sox Gordon Beckham Jersey . Jrue Holiday added 13 points, 12 assists and seven steals for the Sixers, who have won two in a row. Philadelphia had not won consecutive games since a five-game run from January 31-February 9. Premier Saints Jersey . Full Coverage: World Financial Crisis Related readings: Recession calls for good currency management Japan heads for its worst post-WWII recession CEO confidence plunges, long recession seen Britain in recession, data confirms Despite easing inflationary pressures, South Korea faces a growing risk of recession as many real economic indicators are worsening, including production, domestic demand and exports, the ministry said in its monthly economy-assessment report, urging the government to take every measure to safeguard jobs and promote the economy. Deion Sanders Jersey . Liu Zhengrong, deputy chief of the Internet Affairs Bureau of the State Council Information Office, also said Chinese people can access the Web freely, except when are blocked from a very few foreign websites whose contents mostly involve pornography or terrorism. Premier Brett Favre Jersey . Pete Times Forum. Hal Gill and David Desharnais also tallied for Montreal, which earned its fourth straight win. Vincent Lecavalier and Dominic Moore lit the lamp for the Southeast Division- leading Lightning, who suffered their third consecutive loss. Super Bowl Saints Jersey .m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio. Boudreau and the Caps were featured on HBOs "24/7 Penguins/Capitals: Road To The NHL Winter Classic" and earned a 3-1 victory against the Pens at Heinz Field on Saturday night. EDMONTON -- It was not Edmontons most stylish win of the season, but it might have been its most important. Scott Evans led the way with four goals and two assists as the Edmonton Rush took a big step toward securing the fourth and final playoff spot in the National Lacrosse Leagues West Division, defeating the Colorado Mammoth 14-10 on Friday. "We really needed a shut-down defensive effort and I thought right from (goalie Matt Disher) on out we had that," said Edmonton coach Derek Keenan. "I thought we played with a lot of jam tonight. We won a lot of loose-ball battles and put some butts in the turf. We were physical. We wanted it pretty bad." Cory Small had three goals, Andy Secore had a pair and Ryan Ward, Brodie Merill, Dean Hill, Zack Greer, John Lafontaine each scored once for the Rush (4-9) who have won two in a row on the heels of a four-game losing skid. "I was on a two-game drought there without some goals, so it was nice to get some tonight," Small said. "We knew that (Mammoth goalie Chris) Levis likes to bite on the fakes, so getting inside made things a bit easier on me." John Grant and Alex Gajic each had four goals and Joel Dalgarno two for the fifth-place Mammoth (2-9), who have dropped seven of their last eight. "We just werent good enough," said Colorado coach Bob Hamley. "We had stretches where we werent bad but our trouble all year is that we just cant score. We didnt shoot the ball particularly well. We had some letdowns on defence. You can go up and down the floor, we just didnt play well. We didnt show up very well and we got it handed to us." Grant said if the Mammoth werent already in danger of missing the post-season, they certainly are now. "From here on out its playoffs," he said. "Its like a seven-game series for us right now and we just lost Game 1. We have to win three out of our next four or we are in a lot of trouble." It took more than four minutes for the games first goal to be scored but it was a beauty, as Grant sent a no-look, behind the back shot past Disher. Edmonton responded just 28 seconds later as Secoore pushed a rebound past Levis. Replica Eric Berry Jersey. Defence again took over until there was four minutes to play in the first, as Evans put the Rush up 2-1 with a power-play goal, his 20th of the season. Edmonton went up by a pair just before the end of the first as Small completely undressed Levis with a great fake to score shorthanded. The Rush took a 5-1 lead early on goals by Evans and Ward, but the Mammoth responded quickly on a goal by Dalgarno. Edmonton went up by four goals again on a breakaway goal by their captain, Merrill. Colorado bounced back on the power play with Grants second of the game and cut the lead to 6-4 at the half on Grants hat trick marker with just 45 seconds left to play. Edmonton scored just one minute into the third as some good passing left Hill a wide open net to put the ball into. The Rush restored their four-goal lead three minutes into the third as Small scored his second of the game on a diving shot. The teams twice exchanged goals in the third before Edmonton went up 11-6 after the third on Smalls hat trick goal. Edmonton went up by six goals early in the fourth as Lafontaine picked off a pass and went the distance to score. Colorado put Matt King in net but the first shot he faced got past him as Greer scored to make it 13-6. The Mammoth came roaring back with two goals, one Grants fourth of the game on another behind-the-back shot, before Edmonton made it 14-8 on Evans fourth. Colorado got a couple more goals from Gajic but couldnt get close enough to mount a late challenge. NOTES: It was the start of a crucial run of three games in a row between the Rush and Mammoth. The two teams play a rematch on Saturday in Colorado and again in Edmonton on April 9... Colorado still has two games in hand on the Rush... Edmontons Zack Greer was named the National Lacrosse Leagues player of the week for his seven point performance last week in the Rushs win over Minnesota... Colorados Gavin Prout made his first appearance against his old team after being traded by the rush in March for Mike McLellan and a first round draft pick. Prout was Edmontons leading scorer at the time of the deal. ' ' '
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