USA's Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk against Spain for two of his 11 points. The United States crushed Spain, 119-82, on Saturday in Beijing.

Beijing ? Carmelo Anthony crept down a hallway at Wukesong Arena, playfully trying to find the bathroom where teammate Dwyane Wade was taking a random drug test. Minutes later, LeBron James shouted to Anthony over print reporters that he was off to be interviewed on television “because my face belongs on the ti-zube!”

After making a mockery of their first four opponents in these Olympics, the United States men’s basketball players having taken to mocking one another.

Saturday’s 119-82 thrashing of Spain did nothing to dim the Americans’ mood.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski called Greece and Spain “two of the top teams in the world” – and neither came within 23 points of the U.S.

Spain is the reigning world champion and boasted several current, former and future NBA players. But unless the Spaniards were trying to lose with the intent of avoiding Argentina in the semifinals – which is highly unlikely – the rest of the teams might want to start playing for second place.

“I think they sent a message to everybody in the tournament. They let everybody know that they are for real,” said Spain forward Pau Gasol, a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and a former NBA all-star. “They are playing with a purpose. And that purpose is to win and show everybody else they are superior.”

The Americans played their most complete game against Spain, improving to 4-0 and clinching the top seed in Group B for the medal round quarterfinals. They again used relentless pressure defense to create 28 turnovers (13 more than Spain’s average entering the game) and got on the break for easy layups and dunks (the U.S. outscored Spain, 32-0, in fast break points). They also mixed in some three-point shooting, which had been missing in their previous decisive victories against China, Angola and Greece. The U.S. made 12 of 25 three-point attempts against Spain after shooting a tournament-worst 29.2 percent (19-of-45) in its first three games combined.

Anthony broke out of a mini-slump, making four of six three-point attempts and finishing with 16 points; he had scored 23 points in the first three games combined.

Point guard Chris Paul also had his best game with 14 points, eight assists, five steals and five rebounds. Jason Kidd finally scored his only two points of the Games in the third quarter, when his layup gave the U.S. a 24-point lead and practically served as the equivalent of a puff on a victory cigar.

“Our goal is go out every night and dominate,” center Dwight Howard said. “We’re not going to let up. We’re trying to get ready and win a gold medal, no matter how well we play.”

At some point, a team might find an area where the U.S. is vulnerable and attack it. A weakness might be exposed, and the Americans won’t know how to counter. The Americans have to keep reminding themselves of such cautions, because after overwhelming opponents with their quickness and athleticism in their first three games, they didn’t show many flaws against Spain.

The U.S. has yet to face Lithuania and Argentina, the top two teams from Group A, and it might see a highly-motivated Spain in the final.

Anthony was asked if he could imagine a scenario in which the U.S. breezes through this tournament with a dominance that hadn’t been seen since 1996. He flashed a smile and said, “If at the end of the tournament, that’s where we are, we’ll take that.”