Wade Scores 13 Off Bench As USA Smokes Turkey

By DeAndré Phillips

Dwyane Wade had his second great outing as he came off the bench to score 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting to help Team USA defeat Turkey, 114-82, on Thursday.

Team USA overcame a sluggish first half thanks in large part to Wade, who kept the Americans in the game with his timely offense. Wade scored six points and added an assist during Team USA’s first quarter-ending 10-0 run, including the go ahead lay-up that put them up for good, 28-27, with 53 seconds left in the quarter. But the score would remain close until midway through the second quarter. Holding a slim 35-34 lead at the 8:38 mark, Team USA put down the defensive clamps, holding Turkey to just three points (one field-goal) for the rest of the half. USA led at the half, 54-37.

Wade had eight points through the game’s first 20 minutes and took center stage in the highlight-filled third period, where USA broke open the game. With 3:57 remaining, LeBron James found Wade deep at the other end of the court for the highlight dunk. Wade later returned the favor when he found a cutting James for a lay-up. The four-time HEAT All-Star’s second-half dunk was named ESPN2’ Sprite Play of the Game.

James had 20 points to lead the U.S., while Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points and Dwight Howard added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Chris Bosh had 13 points and Chris Paul added 12 points and six assists for America. Turkey was led by Cenk Akyol’s 22 points.

The U.S. will continue its exhibition schedule against Lithuania on Friday at 8 a.m. ET on ESPN2.



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