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U.S. wins, but bigger walls are in its future

Published August 12, 2008 at 8:35 a.m.

Forward Chris Bosh talked about getting in a "good workout" Monday.

Wait a minute. Didn't the Americans take that day off instead of drill for Tuesday's date with Angola, perhaps their last gimme game of the Olympics?

Yes, they did. But Bosh and Tayshaun Prince headed for the Great Wall of China.

Climbing it perhaps took more exertion than Team USA's 97-76 win against Angola at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, a game the Americans led by as many as 33 points.

"It was a lot of fun," Bosh said. "It was a good workout just getting up there. I took a lot of pictures. It's one of the wonders of the world. . . . You really have respect for it just when you walk up just a little bit."

The Americans, who have gone three straight Olympics or world championships without winning a gold medal, are in China to take care of business. But it's not as if it has been basketball boot camp so far.

Players are taking in the Olympic experience. Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony remains amazed by the treatment they have received from the Chinese.

"From America, nobody in a million years thought they were going to open their arms up out to us like they're doing," Anthony said. "Wherever we go, they're always clapping, they're cheering for us."

After shooting 4-of-16 in the previous two games, an exhibition against Australia and the opener against China, Anthony went 4-of-6 for 12 points against Angola.

Anthony, who denied he was even in a "minor shooting slump," was one of four Americans in double figures, with guard Dwyane Wade leading the way with 19.

But just as important was Anthony grabbing six rebounds in 21 minutes against Angola, which at least scored a moral victory after coach Alberto Carvalho had told his players the goal was to not lose by more than 40.

"I told coach (Mike Krzyzew- ski) before the tournament I'm going try to get the rebounding record (for an American) of 16 rebounds in (an Olympic) game," Anthony said. "I know I can score any given time on the court, but I'll leave the scoring up to LeBron (James) and Kobe (Bryant) and (Wade)."

Krzyzewski probably would settle for Anthony getting half the record total in an upcoming big game. The Americans (2-0) conclude pool play against Greece, Spain and Germany.

With the Greeks on Thursday, Anthony doesn't have to be reminded about Team USA falling to them in a 2006 world championships semifinal.

"I'm expecting this game to be special," he said. "They know that we're coming back. Everybody is excited. . . . I don't think LeBron is going to get any sleep the next few days. They've been talking about this game since Vegas. I'm going to get some sleep, but . . . that's the game I got marked on my calendar."

You better believe the Americans will practice today. But at least Bosh and Prince have gotten in their Great Wall visit.

"It was awesome," Prince said. "The Great Wall (is) something you got to be able to go out there and visualize. . . . The one thing that amazed me is it's 3,600 miles long. It's longer than the United States."

Speaking of long and the United States, it's been quite a drought since the Americans won gold. So one figures the sightseeing will be a bit curtailed.

U.S. 97, Angola 76

U.S. (2-0)

Wade 6-8 5-7 19, Howard 6-6 2-4 14, James 5-7 2-5 12, Anthony 4-6 3-5 12, Bryant 4-13 0-0 8, Bosh 3-4 2-2 8, Williams 2-6 2-2 7, Prince 3-6 0-0 7, Paul 3-4 0-0 6, Boozer 1-4 0-0 2, Redd 1-4 0-0 2, Kidd 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-68 16-25 97.

ANGOLA (0-2)

Morais 7-13 7-9 24, Costa 3-4 2-4 9, Costa 3-4 2-2 9, Almeida 2-9 2-2 8, Mingas 4-13 0-0 8, Barros 1-3 2-2 5, Moussa 2-2 0-0 5, Gomes 1-5 2-2 4, Ambrosio 1-7 0-0 2, Paulo 1-2 0-0 2, Cipriano 0-0 0-0 0, Jeronimo 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-64 17-21 76.

Angola18 19 16 23 - 76

U.S.29 26 26 16 - 97

Three-point goals - Angola 9-31 (Morais 3-8, Almeida 2-8, Costa 1-2, Costa 1-2, Barros 1-2, Moussa 1-1, Mingas 0-5, Ambrosio 0-1, Jeronimo 0-2), U.S. 5-21 (Wade 2-3, Anthony 1-2, Williams 1-2, Prince 1-3, Bryant 0-8, Paul 0-1, Redd 0-2). Fouled out - Angola (Barros). Rebounds - Angola 38 (Gomes 8), U.S. 34 (Anthony 6). Assists - Angola 8 (Costa 2), U.S. 18 (James 5). Fouls - Angola 23, U.S. 21.

STANDINGS, RESULTS

Men

GROUP A

Country W L Pts.

Croatia 2 0 4

Lithuania 2 0 4

Argentina 1 1 3

Russia 1 1 3

Australia 0 2 2

Iran 0 2 2

GROUP B

Spain 2 0 4

UNITED STATES 2 0 4

Germany 1 1 3

Greece 1 1 3

Angola 0 2 2

China 0 2 2

TUESDAY'S RESULTS

United States 97, Angola 76

Lithuania 99, Iran 67

Croatia 85, Russia 78

Greece 87, Germany 64

Spain 85, China 75, OT

Argentina 85, Australia 68

Women

GROUP A

Country W L Pts.

Russia 3 0 6

Australia 2 0 4

Belarus 1 2 4

South Korea 1 1 3

Brazil 0 2 2

Latvia 0 2 2

GROUP B

UNITED STATES 2 0 4

China 1 1 3

Czech Republic 1 1 3

Spain 1 1 3

New Zealand 1 1 3

Mali 0 2 2

TODAY'S RESULTS

Russia 71, Belarus 65

Spain vs. Czech Republic, late

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