The hoops report from China

Here is the first line of Mark Heisler's Los Angeles Times report on USA Basketball's 89-68 win over Russia on Sunday in Shanghai: "Another so-called big one bites the dust."

This one was closer than USA Basketball's past three wins -- the U.S. beat Canada by 55, Turkey by 32 and Lithuania by 36.

Kobe Bryant had a game high 19 points, while Carmelo Anthony added 17 and Dwyane Wade, 16. Each time Bryant went to the free-throw line during the exhibition game, the crowd chanted "MVP."

That brought this response from Bryant: "It feels like home away from home. It's great to be so far from Staples Center and still have so much support, I feel like I'm home."

Here's the take from Russian Coach David Blatt, an American who once played at Princeton: "Any time you face the beast and you don't get eaten, you did all right."

The U.S. men play Australia on Aug. 5 at Shanghai's Qizhong Arena, the squad's final tune-up game prior to the Beijing Olympics.

Meanwhile, in Haining, China, the U.S. women's team on Sunday beat Latvia 84-74 in FIBA Diamond Ball tournament play. Sylvia Fowles scored 13 points. Five U.S. players were in double figures. Tina Thompson scored 12 points; Seimone Augustus and Sue Bird each scored 11 and Lisa Leslie added 10.

In Sunday's first game, Australia defeated host China, 84-70.

The U.S. faces Russia on Aug. 4 in its second preliminary round Group B game. Teams in Group A include Australia, Mali and China. The finals will be played on Aug. 5 in Haining.

Finally, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Wen shook hands with Yao Ming and other China national team players and coaches during a Sunday practice session in Beijing.

"Your first game will catch the attention of the world, and you must have confidence, stay collected and play well," Wen said, according to the New China news agency. "I hope you can win glory, dignity and friendship, displaying the true personality of Chinese."

China and the U.S. open their Olympics schedules with an Aug. 10 match-up.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: Kobe Bryant on defense during a match between the U.S. and Russia on Sunday in Shanghai. The U.S. won 89-68. Credit: Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press Photo