The game was not a re-assuring one for team USA.  Once again they struggled against a team who
failed to even qualify for the Olympics, the other team being Germany. Team USA owned a tight 19-18 lead after one quarter of play.  Dwayne Wade scored the USA's final four points of the second quarter to help the U.S. take a 41-29 advantage into the half.

The U.S. opened up their lead to 49-41 late in the third period.  They then went on a 9-0 run to increase the lead to 58-41 just before the end of the third quarter.  Veterans Tim Duncan, four points, and Allen Iverson, three points, led the U.S. run.  Turkey's Ibrahim Kutluay came up with a loose ball and nailed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to cut the lead to 58-46 going into the fourth period.

But the momentum would drastically change.  The star trio of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Wade couldn't stop Turkey from making a fourth quarter comeback.  Team USA watched a 17 point lead quickly fade.

A barrage of Turkey 3-pointers, 11 for the game, spurred a 19-8 run to help close the gap.  Kutluay drilled three consecutive 3-pointers, his last coming with 3:40 to play to make the score 68-65.

"It was a good experience for us because we're going to have games like this when there is some adversity and they start making shots against us," coach Larry Brown said.

Coach Brown admitted he was tempted to leave his youngsters in, but he reinserted the team's co-captains, Duncan and Iverson, who righted the team to close out the game.  The tightened defense held Turkey to just one field goal the rest of the game.

"The big thing was that in the last three minutes I don't know if Turkey scored after we went back to our first unit," Brown said. "The key was we didn't panic, righted ourselves and played with great poise down the stretch."

Duncan led the United States with 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.  Iverson chipped in with 13 points.  No other member reached double figures in points.  Stephon Marbury was held scoreless.

Team USA shot 59.6 percent from the floor for the game. The U.S. outrebounded Turkey 33-27.  Turkey struggled from the floor shooting 31.5 percent from the field.

Kutluay led Turkey with 19 points and Serkan Erdogan added 17. Kutluay shot 7-19 overall and 5-13 from 3-point land.  Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for Turkey.

The teams square off again Tuesday.