New York ? Jason Kidd graded the U.S. team with a “B,” which seemed about right after a performance that was very good — but not great.

Tim Duncan had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and the United States broke open a semi-close game with a 10-0 fourth-quarter run to defeat Puerto Rico, 101-74, in an exhibition game Sunday.

It was the only tuneup for the Americans before beginning play Wednesday night at the Olympic qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The game, originally scheduled for Friday night, was postponed for two days due to Thursday’s blackout in the northeastern United States and Canada.

“It wasn’t our best game, but I think we did some good things and made some adjustments on the fly. We still have some room for improvement, but I think it’s a ‘B.’ It wasn’t totally bad, and I think we got better,” Kidd said.

The game drew a crowd of 16,473 to Madison Square Garden, and the fans picked on U.S. forward Nick Collison after he entered the game in the second quarter and quickly botched two plays.

“I think they booed me because I wasn’t playing well,” said Collison, a first-year member of the Seattle SuperSonics out of Kansas University who finished with two points off 1-of-3 shooting.

“At least I did something well by the end. It was a little embarrassing that they had to give me a standing (ovation) just for tipping a ball off a guy’s leg.”

This was the first time playing in a big arena for this version of the U.S. senior national team, and it became apparent right away how much the Americans missed Duncan last summer when they finished sixth at the World Championships. Duncan had 11 of the U.S. team’s first 15 points and finished the first quarter with 15.

Tracy McGrady scored 15 points and Ray Allen 14 for the Americans, who outscored Puerto Rico, 26-8, in the final quarter and 47-16 in the second half.

Carlos Arroyo of the NBA’s Utah Jazz led Puerto Rico with 18 points.

“It’s a good example of what we are going to be faced with — playing teams that have been together for a long time, and we have to respect them,” U.S. coach Larry Brown said. “There were far more positives than negatives.”

While the U.S. team missed 15 free throws (in 35 attempts) and committed 15 turnovers, the biggest positive was the way it clamped down on defense and controlled the boards in the second half.

The Americans finished with a 54-23 edge in rebounding and held Puerto Rico to 25-percent shooting in the second half.

With Duncan making his first six shots, the Americans shot 63 percent in the first half, but led just 54-48 at the break after Eddie Casiano hit a three-pointer right before the buzzer. Assistant coach Gregg Popovich challenged the U.S. team to hold Puerto Rico to 35 points or less in the second half, and the team responded. The U.S. will practice in New York today before traveling to Puerto Rico and opening the qualifying tournament Wednesday night against Brazil.