MACAU (AFP) — LeBron James' Team USA buried European heavyweights Lithuania 120-84 on Friday to lay down a marker for reclaiming the Olympic title.
The 12-time champions, humbled at Athens 2004, matched defensive ferocity with offensive class as they shot to a big early lead, stifled a brief comeback, and then ran away with it in front of a packed Cotai Arena.
Cleveland Cavaliers playmaker James again dominated with 15 points and six assists as the NBA superstars made it three out of three after convincing warm-up wins against Canada and Turkey.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski refused to look too far ahead despite an all-round display which underlines USA's status as favourites for a 13th gold medal in Beijing.
"We're just thinking about playing Russia right now and about keeping getting better," the coach said, referring to USA's next friendly in Shanghai.
"I think if you look ahead you can get knocked off by anybody. I think we played really well tonight because we had so much respect for Lithuania, who I think will also be a medal-round team or a medal winner."
MVP Dwyane Wade, the top-scorer with 19, said he was happy to be back to his best after two seasons disrupted by injury.
"I've worked my tail off to get healthy," he said. "I'm healthy as I've been in two years. I'm excited not only about this opportunity but also about the rest of my career.
"That weight room's become my best friend."
USA got off to a fearsome start, swarming the Lithuania offence and racing to a 19-0 lead as James picked up where he left off against Turkey with a pair of crowd-pleasing dunks.
NBA MVP Kobe Bryant showed delicate artistry with a two-point lay-up and jumper, and Chris Paul added a fade-away for another two with the USA cruising 31-15 by the end of the first period.
James is the NBA scoring champion, but his defensive qualities were instrumental and he fought under his own net before firing the length of the court for Paul, who set up Bryant for a flying jam and 56-39 at half-time.
Triple European champions Lithuania started the third period with a series of three-pointers, but James hit back with one of his own and added two net-swinging dunks to smother the brief renaissance.
Wade then took over scoring duties as he shot twice for three and was fed by Paul for a spectacular jam to take the score to 91-66 by the final period.
Another Wade slam, with the help of Deron Williams, completed Lithuania's misery as the world's fifth-ranked team finished outclassed and 36 points back.
"We lost the game and we lost very badly but don't forget against whom we played," said Lithuania coach Ramunas Butautas.
"We played against the best team in the world, against the best players and the best coach. The American players were stronger and faster. We lost the game one-on-one and we lost the plays under the basket."
Lithuania's run of three straight Olympic bronze medals was ended by USA in the Athens 2004 third-place play-off. They had earlier humbled the "Dream Team" defending champions in the opening round.
Lithuania had won six out of seven warm-ups this month, falling only to world champions Spain. They are drawn against Olympic title-holders Argentina, Russia, Australia, Iran and Croatia in Group A.
Team USA are vying to end an eight-year international drought stretching back to Sydney 2000 with embarrassing flops at Athens and two World Championships along the way.
USA, who will complete their preparations against Russia and Australia in Shanghai, play China on August 10 to kick off a tough Group B also including Spain, African champions Angola and European powers Greece and Germany.
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