James, Bryant on fire as USA basketballers roast Turkey

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

MACAU (AFP) — LeBron James and Kobe Bryant ran Olympic-sized rings around Turkey as Team USA stepped up their preparations for Beijing with a 114-82 rout on Thursday.

James, who has already guaranteed the long-awaited Olympic gold, was his team's top-scorer with 20 points as NBA MVP Bryant supplied seven assists in front of 12,000 enthusiastic fans at Cotai Arena.

Carmelo Anthony weighed in with 17 points, Dwight Howard slammed his way to 14 and Dwyane Wade underlined his recovery from injury problems with 13 points, including a spectacular dunk, in more than 20 minutes on court.

The 23-year-old James, who also supplied four assists, has emerged as a natural leader of the captain-less team and appears determined to land the title that eluded him four years...