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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:06 p.m., Thursday, August 14, 2008

U.S. avenges Greece loss, stays unbeaten in Olympics

By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Basketball Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

USA's guard Kobe Bryant dunks against Greece during the third quarter of their men's preliminary basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing on Thursday.

ERIC GAY | Associated Press

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BEIJING — The United States stopped the pick-and-rolls — and just about everything else — to beat Greece 92-69 Thursday at the Beijing Olympics.

These Americans that looked so lost two years ago appear to have found their Olympic defensive way.

Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to win big.

China also won, getting 30 points from Yao Ming in a 85-68 win over Angola.

Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh each scored 18 points for the United States (3-0), which clinched a spot in the medal round and moves on to a matchup of Group B unbeatens Saturday against world champion Spain. The winner will earn the group's top seed for the quarterfinals.

Dwyane Wade added 17 points and LeBron James scored 13.

Greece stunned the Americans two years ago in the semifinals of the world championships, shredding the U.S. defense for 63 percent shooting with clinical execution of its pick-and-roll offense in a 101-95 victory.

This time, the Americans had an answer for everything, using a suffocating defense to extend a seven-point lead into a 19-point cushion in the final 5½ minutes of the first half.

Theo Papaloukas scored 15 points for Greece, which found things easy against the Americans two years ago but not this time. The Greeks had 26 field goals but committed 25 turnovers.

Greece (1-2), which lost to Spain in its opener, faces winless Angola before closing pool play against China.

China used an overwhelming height advantage to dominate under the basket and exploit frequently sloppy play by the African champions for easy baskets.

Yao drilled 10 of 11 field goals for 91 percent shooting, matched by 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Sun Yue added 11 points for China, sinking all four of his field goals, including two three pointers.

Joaquim Gomes had 17 points to lead Angola.

Yi Jianlian of the New Jersey Nets seemed to come alive for the first time in the tournament, stuffing several big jams and grabbing 10 defensive rebounds. That won him a rare note of approval from China coach Jonas Kazlauskas.

"I'm think he still hasn't found a good chemistry with Yao. This isn't easy. But today much better," Kazlauskas said.

The Lithuanian-born Kazlauskas said he'd been concerned before the game by China's earlier later-period collapses against the United States and Spain. After China appeared to wobble in the second quarter, he sat the team down for a firm locker room talk at halftime and "all better," he said.

In other games, Brad Newley scored 24 points to lead Australia to a 106-68 win against Iran. Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol had 13 points in Spain's 72-59 victory against Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki and Germany.

Nowitzki scored 11 points for Germany.

Rimantas Kaukenas scored a team-leading 20 points as Lithuania defeated Russia. In what had been an extremely close game, Lithuania pulled ahead for the final time 82-77 on a thundering three-pointer by Jonas Maciulis with just over three minutes to go.

Russia's Andrei Kirilenko, who had been struggling from the line all game, then fluffed a pair of free throws, allowing Lithuania to seal the win. Ramunas Siskauskas added 16 points for Lithuania.