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Jordan Helps Lead Another Strong Defensive Effort For Team USA

The way Team USA’s defending, it can afford getting only two players scoring in double digits. 

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan helped lead that defensive effort Friday at the United Center in Chicago against Venezuela, amassing half of Team USA’s blocks in an 80-45 win, the fourth straight the U.S. Men’s National Team to begin exhibition play.

Jordan finished with eight points, six rebounds and four blocks in 16 minutes off the bench. He started off hot the minute he entered, posting two points, four rebounds and three blocks in fewer than six minutes of first-quarter action.

By halftime, Jordan already had four points, four rebounds and four blocks in only six minutes and 50 seconds of playing time. Meanwhile, Team USA held Venezuela to just six points in the second quarter. With only 18 points by halftime, Venezuela’s fate was basically sealed, despite the U.S. only shooting 30 percent in the first half.

The strong defense has become a trend for USA. After the offense led the way to start exhibition play against Argentina, the U.S. Men’s National Team held China to 57 points two separate times, forcing 18 turnovers in the latter of the two exhibition games, before forcing Venezuela to shoot 23.9 percent with 19 turnovers Friday night.

Even as the shooting’s come and gone, Team USA has managed to pull away easily by the second halves of their exhibition matchups. That was the case Friday as well, even with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson (13 points apiece) serving as the only two U.S. players scoring in double digits.

Once again, most of Jordan’s points came via the dunk. After a tip layup to start his scoring, his next points came on a throwdown off a dish from Draymond Green, who led Team USA with six assists. Two of those went to Jordan, as Green found the center for an alley-oop before Jordan finished off his scoring in the fourth quarter off a lob from behind the arc by Kevin Durant. 

Jordan will get to head back to his hometown next, as Team USA will get its fifth and final exhibition test Aug. 1 in Houston against Nigeria before heading to Rio for the Olympics.