Turner fires back at Team USA critics

A key member of Team USA has hit out at the "disrespect" and "slander" directed at the deposed champions after they were dumped out of the FIFA World Cup in the quarterfinals.

Myles Turner of the NBA's Indiana Pacers made an impassioned defense of Team USA after the Americans were beaten for the second time in as many days on Thursday in Guangdong.

Writing on Twitter, the 23-year-old center said: "We came up short and can't nobody be more upset than us, but I refuse to tolerate any slander for our play. You cannot question our heart, our character or our spirit.