The United States emphatically reasserted its dominance over Puerto Rico.

Using a sensational defensive effort to overcome a slow start, the Americans overwhelmed the Puerto Ricans 114-69 on Thursday night in their lone exhibition game on home soil before the world championships.

Carmelo Anthony  scored 18 points, Antawn Jamison  added 16 and Dwyane Wade  had 14 for the Americans, who will meet Puerto Rico again on August 19, in the opening game of the world championships in Sapporo, Japan.

Hours before departing for Asia to continue training for that event, the Americans showed their defense seems at championship level already.