U.S. basketball teams edge past Australians
Lisa Leslie scored 14 points, and the United States held off Australia 71-67 to win the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament Tuesday night in Haining, China.
This was the first meeting between these two rivals with both teams at full strength since the 2004 Olympics gold medal game, won by the Americans 74-63.
Before Tuesday's game, both teams said this contest was merely a tuneup for the Olympics and nothing more. Yet the physical play spoke differently. Players on both teams hit the floor after hard fouls and the game had the feel of an Olympic gold medal matchup not a meaningless game.
The next time these teams meet could be for the Olympic gold.
Penny Taylor scored 19 points to lead Australia. Lauren Jackson added 16 and was named the tournament's MVP.
The Americans were leading 67-65 with 2:04 left when Leslie hit a layup to extend the advantage to 4. Taylor answered with a twisting layup on the other end to make it a 2-point game.
With the shot clock winding down, Tina Thompson hit a jumper from the corner to restore a 4-point lead. Then Australia turned the ball over on its next two possessions.
Candace Parker had 12 points, and Sue Bird added 11 for the United States.
U.S. men survive test: Undefeated, but no longer unchallenged.
The U.S. Olympic basketball team wrapped up its exhibition schedule with its toughest test, pulling away to beat Australia 87-76 Tuesday night in Shanghai, China, its final game before heading to Beijing.
The United States led by only 4 points nearly halfway through the third quarter and was up by 7 midway through the fourth against an Australian team that was resting its best player, Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut.
The Americans relied on an aggressive defensive effort to overcome a horrendous night from 3-point range and the free-throw line, the same areas that proved costly in their semifinal loss to Greece in the world championships two years ago.
Dwyane Wade scored 22 points and LeBron James had 16 for the Americans, who finished 3 of 18 from behind the arc and 20 of 33 (61 percent) at the foul line.
Patrick Mills and Chris Anstey, who had a first-half altercation with Wade, each scored 13 points for Australia.