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Game Rewind: USA 80, Venezuela 45 (Exhibition)

Paul George did not play.

That's about the extent of the news for Pacers fans regarding the U.S. Olympic team's 80-45 exhibition victory over Venezuela on Friday at the United Center in Chicago in an otherwise one-sided and uneventful game. George, who sat out the second half of the previous exhibition game in Oakland with a mildly strained left calf, took the precautionary measure of sitting out again. He dressed, but was relegated to cheering from the bench.

Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving led the U.S. scoring with 13 points each. Overall, the team hit just 4-of-25 3-pointers and shot just 42 percent from the field.

It was the fourth blowout victory without a loss for the U.S., but its least impressive performance.

"They look tired," television analyst Grant Hill said. "This is one of those days fatigue won."

A rare highlight came near the end of the game when Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler slapped the ball over the head of a Venezuelan player in the open court to Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry, who slapped it back over his head with his left hand for Butler to catch at the rim and dunk.

The U.S. team will continue its exhibition tour on Monday, when it plays the Nigerian Olympic team in Houston.

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