Kobe Bryant (right) of the US lays up against Australia in their Olympic Games warm-up game in Shanghai. The US won 87-76. - AP
SHANGHAI, China (AP):
UNDEFEATED BUT no longer unchallenged. The US Olympic basketball team wrapped up its exhibition schedule with its toughest test, pulling away to beat Australia 87-76 yesterday in its final game before heading to Beijing.
The US led by only four points nearly halfway through the third quarter and were up by seven midway through the fourth against an Australian team that was resting its best player, Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut.
The Americans relied on an aggressive defensive effort to overcome a horrendous night from three-point range and the free-throw line, the same areas that proved costly in their semi-final loss to Greece in the World Championships two years ago.
Outside shots
"I think we made it a little harder on ourselves by not moving the ball around as much," Dwyane Wade said. "We didn't make our outside shots tonight as well as we've been in the past, but at the end of the day we won the ball game. We found a way to win."
Wade scored 22 points and LeBron James had 16 for the Americans, who finished 3-of-18 from three-point range and 20-of-33 (61 per cent) at the foul line.
Patrick Mills and Chris Anstey, who had a first-half altercation with Wade, each scored 13 points for Australia.
"In the third quarter, they knocked down some big shots and I think that got them back in the game," Kobe Bryant said. "And for us, we have to understand that that's going to happen from time to time and it's important to keep our poise, keep our composure and buckle down."
The US team seemed in control after allowing one basket in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the first half to open a 44-29 lead. But the Americans left that defensive intensity in the locker room, allowing a number of open three-pointers and uncontested drives to the basket.
"We came out lazy," Wade said.
The Australians outscored the Americans 13-2 to open the third quarter, pulling to 46-42 on David Barlow's lay-up with 6:52 remaining in the period. The US regrouped behind Wade and Carmelo Anthony, rebuilding the lead to double digits headed to the fourth.
"We just broke down. We gambled a couple of times and allowed them to make the extra pass," James said. "We can't have those type of mental breakdowns because these teams can really shoot the ball."
Possible upset
Michael Redd and Wade had lay-ups to open the scoring in the fourth, pushing the US lead to 69-55. Australia scored nine of the next 11 points to pull within seven with still half the period left, making the upset seem possible. The crowd even got behind the Australians, loudly booing a call that overruled what seemed to a potential three-point play for them on an offensive rebound.
The Americans got their running game going again, and Wade had some easy baskets as they pulled away for their closest victory. A 21-point win over Russia was the previous closest game for the Americans, who came in averaging 110.8 points and shooting 64.2 per cent from the field.
Bryant scored 13 points and Anthony had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the US, who face hosts China on Sunday in their Olympic opener.
Bogut, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft, wanted more time to rest a sore right ankle that has been bothering him, but said he expects to be ready by the opener against Croatia on Sunday.
The Australians threw a scare into defending gold-medalist Argentina in an earlier friendly, building a 19-point lead in the third quarter before losing 95-90.
