US men’s, women’s basketball teams dominate in exhibitions

Kyrie Irving scored 13 points, DeMarcus Cousins powered a dominant performance in the paint, and the United States pulled away from Venezuela for an ugly 80-45 exhibition victory in Chicago on Friday night. Coming off three straight flashy victories in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Oakland, the United States shot 42.4 percent from the field and committed 13 turnovers in by far its worst offensive performance of its five-city tour in preparation for next week's Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Returning to Chicago for the first time with the U.S. national team, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler was cheered every time he was announced at the United Center. USA! with a windmill jam in the final minutes. Diana Taurasi scored 14 points and Elena Delle Donne added 12 to help the U.S. women beat Canada 83-43 in an exhibition game in Bridgeport, Conn. The Americans had only a three-point lead on the select team in their pre-Olympic tour opener Monday and led France by one Wednesday at the half. The loud crowd gave the former Huskies a rousing ovation in pregame introductions and then cheered every one of their great plays.