Bkb: China secure quarter-final spot; USA crush Spain

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2008
Bkb: China secure quarter-final spot; USA crush Spain

BEIJING, Aug 16 DPA - China secured a quarter-final spot in the Olympic men's basketball
competition today with a hard-fought 59-55 win over Germany.

China star Yao Ming scored 25 points, while fellow NBA professionals Dirk Nowitzki
and Chris Kaman scored 24 and 10 respectively for Germany.

The Germans, who have never really got going in the competition, face the near-impossible
task of beating the USA in the final preliminary match on Monday to advance.

The USA crushed Spain 119-82 in the day's last and much-anticipated group B match,
with LeBron James topping the US scoring with 18, followed by Dwayne Wade and Carmelo
Anthony each with 16.

The Spaniards produced the match's highest scorer in Felipe Reyes with 19, followed
by 13 from Pau Gasol.

The early group B match saw Greece beat Angola 102-61, Ioannis Bourousis grabbing a
stunning 22 points in his 13 minutes on court.

In Group A, Lithuania made it four wins out of four by beating Croatia 86-73, and defending
champions Argentina beat Iran 87-82 to go second in their group.

Lithuania took charge in the final quarter with four stunning three-point shots from
their second-highest scorer Linas Kleiza.

Australia led throughout for a 95-80 win over Russia, Andrew Bogut and CJ Bruton netting
22 points apiece to go equal on points with Croatia, both keeping their quarter-final
hopes alive.

DPA vm

KEYWORD: OLY BKBM NIGHTLEAD

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