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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Red, white and blase for one quarter, the U.S. Olympic mens basketball team woke up and won with ease.Shaking off a sluggish, sloppy start and maybe some Brazilian boredom, the Americans regrouped in the second quarter and romped over Venezuela 113-69 on Monday, taking another step toward a possible third straight gold medal.Kevin Durant scored 16 points and Carmelo Anthony 14 for the U.S. squad, which may have grown a touch overconfident following a 57-point blowout of China in its tournament opener.The Americans were tied after one quarter, but turned up their defensive intensity, outscored Venezuela 30-8 in the second period and improved to 82-1 under coach Mike Krzyzewski.The game of basketball, everythings not going to be easy, Durant said. We know that, even with this great team.It was similar to the meeting between the teams in Chicago on July 29, when the U.S. shot poorly and still won by 35 on its pre-Rio exhibition tour. Maybe this was a reminder that no team can be taken lightly -- and there is little margin for error -- once the Olympic flame is ignited.The Americans continue pool play on Wednesday against unbeaten Australia. The Aussies, featuring five NBA players, four of them league champions, improved to 2-0 on Monday with an impressive 95-80 win over Serbia. Australia has never won an Olympic medal in mens basketball.Anthony, the four-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist playing in his record 25th game for the United States, provided a much-needed spark in the second quarter.I think once we settled down, made our adjustments to the way they were calling the game, the way that Venezuela wanted to play the game, that second quarter we picked it up defensively and turned it around, Anthony said.With the Americans leading just 28-22 and looking anything but golden, Anthony came across the lane and stripped the ball away from Venezuelan center Gregory Echenique and passed it to?Kyrie Irving. Anthony then trailed Irving up the floor, accepted a feed on the wing and knocked down a 3-pointer that lifted some of the pressure -- and fog -- off Team USA.Anthony moved past Michael Jordan?on the U.S. career scoring list and now trails only LeBron James and David Robinson.Paul George scored 20 and Jimmy Butler 17 -- most of them coming in extended garbage time -- in the first Olympic matchup between the nations.Venezuelas John Cox, a cousin of American superstar Kobe Bryant, scored 19 and Echenique 18.Although this may not be the best made-in-America team as James, Stephen Curry and others chose to skip the Rio Games, the U.S. squad that came to Brazil appears to be in a class by itself. There will likely be tougher games ahead, but they havent had one yet.Venezuela, which doesnt have an NBA player on its roster, didnt figure to be a threat but the FIBA Americas champion wasnt intimidated by the U.S. roster of household names.With their fans doing all they could to push the heavy underdogs, Venezuelas players outworked the Americans in the first quarter, which ended 18-all and the U.S. with six turnovers.It was a different story in the second, when the Americans reeled off 13 straight points in one stretch to take control.Staying on a 196-cabin luxury cruise ship anchored off Rios coast, the U.S. team has settled in following a few choppy early days in Brazil.Taking the floor in all-white warm-ups as Jay-Zs Public Service Announcement blared inside the Carioca Arena, the U.S. team looked both relaxed and ready.DeAndre Jordan showed off some dance moves during layup drills as Brazilian fans, many of them wearing NBA jerseys, snapped photos of the American stars.Late in the game, after George crushed a dunk to put the U.S. up by 43, Jordan boogied again on the sideline. 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Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off.Claudio Ranieri is still not thinking of the Premier League title even after Leicester moved eight points clear at the top with a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace. Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the game on Saturday as the Foxes extended their lead over second-placed Tottenham, who play Bournemouth on Sunday.But while jubilant Foxes fans sang were going to win the league after the final whistle at Selhurst Park, Ranieri insisted that a top four finish is the main focus. Leicester fans sung were were gonna win the league after beating Pallace I think now we are close to securing Champions League football, that is a great achievement, he told Sky Sports.dddddddddddd We go step by step. The title race is the same as a match: every match you dont know what happens until the end. Its the same with the title.Leicester were made to work hard for victory over out-of-form Palace and almost conceded in injury-time as Damien Delaney volleyed against the bar.Its important to have concentration and focus, Ranieri added. We had to battle. It was a tough match and we played so well. Riyad Mahrez netted the winner at Selhurst Park We deserved to win, we created three or four great chances and they created two. It was a good match and until the end you dont know what happens.The win is Leicesters fourth 1-0 victory in their last five matches and Ranieri is pleased they have been able to grind out results.We can play on the counter, in open space, against a team who closes down well, Ranieri added. But its important now to continue and let the fans dream. Also See: C Palace 0-1 Leicester Mahrez sends Foxes eight clear Leicesters remarkable stats Mahrez: Title getting closer ' ' '