Written by Nelson Ortiz, www.latinosportslegends.com

August 16, 2004 -- The U.S. Olympic basketball team was routed last night by Puerto Rico when they pulled off a shocking 92-73 win that ranked as one of the biggest upset losses in Olympic history for the U.S. 

In his Olympic debut, Jazz man Carlos Arroyo put Puerto Rico on his back, lifting an entire nation while bringing the USA to its knees. Arroyo went off for a game high 24 points.

Puerto Rico employed a zone defense, daring the United States to shoot from the perimeter. The Americans shot -- 24 times, in fact, from beyond a three-point line that is about 2 feet closer to the basket than it is in the NBA -- and missed. With some shots clanging off the side of the backboard and others failing to hit the rim, the United States made only three three-point attempts.

''I think this is a wake-up call for them,'' said Arroyo, who plays for the Utah Jazz and is one of two NBA players on the Puerto Rico roster. The other is Daniel Santiago of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Down 22 in the first half, team USA made a run in the second half, closing to within eight points, but then Arroyo scored six straight points and that was basically that. 

Puerto Rico's celebrating its biggest win ever while US coaches hope their young team has time to come together.

"We couldn't hit a shot to save our lives," said New Jersey Nets forward Richard Jefferson. "We just couldn't hit anything. I shot two off the glass on the side of the backboard. Never in my life have I had a shooting night like this."

Never before had the United States lost an Olympic game with NBA players on the court.

76er's all-star guard Allen Iverson summed it up like this. ''It was a bad loss, but it's not over,'' said Iverson. ''I think they play the game the way the game is supposed to be played."

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