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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:40 a.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Olympics: US teams to play all night games in Beijing

Associated Press

The United States will face host China on Aug. 10 in the final game on the opening day of the Olympic men's basketball tournament.

FIBA announced the game times for the preliminary rounds of the men's and women's tournaments today, and the Americans will play all their games at night. Their games are scheduled for either 8 p.m. or 10:15 p.m. Beijing is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time.

The U.S. men's game against reigning world champion Spain also will be at 10:15 on Aug. 16. The remainder of the Americans' Group B games, against Angola and two teams still to be determined from a qualifying tournament in July in Athens, Greece, drew the 8 p.m. slot.

The quarterfinals are on Aug. 20 and the semifinals are two days later. The gold and bronze medal games are scheduled for Aug. 24, the final day of the Olympics.

The U.S. women, the three-time defending Olympic champions, follow their Aug. 9 opener against a qualifier with a game against China on Aug. 11 at 8 p.m.

The Americans also play Mali, New Zealand and another qualifier in Group B play. Quarterfinal play is on Aug. 19, with the semis on Aug. 21 and the final set for Aug. 23.