U.S. routs Angola in world basketball championship

ISTANBUL - Before it can win a world championship, the United States needed to start looking like a world champion.

Kevin Durant, Chauncey Billups and the rest of the Americans finally had that appearance Monday, powering into the quarterfinals with a 121-66 victory over Angola.

"Obviously, we want to stay humble, but at the same time, we have to know that we can do it," forward Kevin Love said. "We know regardless of what people are saying, that we still are the favorites and we should play and really act like it, too."

They did, opening the knockout round with a quick knockout.

With Billups scoring 16 of his 19 points and Durant all of his 17 in the first half, the Americans saved their most impressive performance in Istanbul for the elimination stage, overwhelming the Angolans from the start after a couple of lackluster performances to close the group stage.

The United States forced turnovers that led to easy baskets in transition, and when forced into the half-court, shot 18-for-38 from three-point range, one off the team record for threes in a world championship game.

"Our guys were sharp," coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

Eric Gordon and Rudy Gay also scored 17 for the Americans, who will face Russia on Thursday night. Gordon was 5-for-6 behind the arc.

Joaquim Gomes, who played at Valparaiso, scored 21 for Angola.

The Americans finished with 30 assists on their 41 field goals and committed just five turnovers.