Sunday's sports briefs

An arena in Istanbul that was nearly covered in Slovenian green grew louder with every U.S. miss.

Playing a rare early game, the United States had stalled after a quick start, and a double-digit lead was down to five as halftime approached.

Then, every time the Americans needed them, Kevin Durant seemed to get on the scoreboard and Kevin Love was on the backboard.

Durant scored 22 points, Love added 10 points and 11 rebounds in a gritty 13 minutes off the bench, and the Americans beat Slovenia 99-77 on Sunday in an opening-round game.

"They did a great job of fighting, getting stops and making plays, and we know that we can't go out here and blow every team out," Durant said. "We had to make this a grind game and we did that, and a good job of keeping our composure."

In other games: Leandro Barbosa scored 21 points and Brazil beat Tunisia 80-65 to set up a matchup of unbeatens with the United States.

The Brazilians and Americans will bring 2-0 records into their game Monday night, with the winner having the inside track as the top seed from Group B. ... Spain, the defending champion, bounced back from its opening-day loss with a 101-84 victory over New Zealand. Ricky Rubio had 11 assists for Spain.

Wozniacki says she's earned top seed Let others wonder whether Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki merits the No. 1 seeding at the U.S. Open, the first time she's been awarded the top spot at a Grand Slam tournament.

She harbors no doubts.

"Pressure is when you're put on the spot and you don't feel like you belong there, don't think you deserve to be there," Wozniacki said Sunday, a day before play begins at Flushing Meadows. "I think I deserve to be where I am, and I think that I'm feeling comfortable there."

HORSE RACING

Long shot beats Rachel Alexandra Jockey Calvin Borel knew Rachel Alexandra was in trouble with a quarter-mile to go in the $300,00 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday.

"I didn't feel any acceleration, and I got worried," Borel said. "She wasn't really there. I knew if anyone was running behind us, we were in trouble."

They sure were. Persistently, a 21-1 longshot, was kicking into high gear under Alan Garcia, gaining ground with every stride. She took the lead with three jumps to go and won by one length.

The loss was the third in five starts this year for Rachel Alexandra, and leaves racing fans wondering what's next for the 4-year-old filly who rolled to an 8-0 record last year with victories against the boys in the Preakness, Haskell and Woodward.

"If she isn't exactly where she was last year, hopefully she can get back there," Rachel's trainer Steve Asmussen said. "I don't want to give up on getting back to where we were. I don't."

AROUND THE HORN

WNBA: Tamika Catchings had 17 points and 13 rebounds to help Indiana beat New York 75-67 to tie their best-of-three Eastern Conference semifinal series. Catchings was also named the WNBA's defensive player of the year for the second consecutive year and fourth time overall. Minnesota's Nicky Anosike was tied for third in with one vote.