[8/08] Team USA edges Brazil in exhibition; Anthony Injured

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GUANGZHOU, China (Ticker) - Team USA found the going much tougher against Brazil on Tuesday than it did a day earlier against China.

LeBron James, Elton Brand and Joe Johnson came up with huge plays in the final minute as the United States basketball team edged Brazil, 90-86, in a warmup for the World Championships in Japan later this month.

The exhibition victory did not come without a price, however, as Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony hyperextended his right knee chasing a loose ball in the second quarter. Anthony, whose 16 points led the U.S., did not return.

"I think he's fine," Team USA assistant coach Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns said. "A couple days' rest and he should be OK."

On Monday, Team USA rolled past China, 119-73, and it appeared it was on its way to an impressive victory in this one after opening a 52-38 lead at the break. But Brazil scored the first 16 points of the second half and hung tough thereafter.

The U.S. held just an 87-86 lead before James, the superstar swingman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, drove the left baseline and banked in a shot with 34 seconds left.

"I saw the big man close out on me strong, and I wanted to just try to be aggressive and not to settle for the jump shot, and I was able to get around him," James said. "One of their guards stepped up and I tried to slide around him and make a tough shot."

Brand, the All-Star forward of the Los Angeles Clippers, blocked a shot on the other end. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 20 seconds to go but missed both free throws, giving Brazil a chance to tie.

However, Johnson, a guard for the Atlanta Hawks, stole the ball from Marcelo Machado and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left, then split two free throws to ice the contest.

"I just tried to stay in front of my man and make it as difficult as possible for him," Johnson said. "I had my hand in low and he tried to cross over and I just hit it and then dove for the ball and came up with it."

Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls scored 14 points, Johnson added 12 and James 11 for the U.S., which was outrebounded, 41-25.

"Look at all the adversity that we faced," Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Carmelo gets hurt, Dwyane (Wade) plays about, I don't know how many minutes, but he was out of the ballgame. LeBron was having his worst offensive night. A little bit of chaos there, especially for a team that's only been together for a short period of time.

"But guys stepped up. Joe did. I thought Kirk Hinrich really stepped up. Our big guys, Elton and Brad Miller, also gave us some stability. But our guys made big plays down the end, they made winning plays and that was the story of the basketball game."

Leandro Barbosa of the Suns scored 14 points and James' Cavaliers teammate Anderson Varejao collected 11 and 16 rebounds for Brazil.

Team USA travels to Seoul to take on Lithuania on Sunday and host Korea on Tuesday. After those games, Krzyzewski is expected to make two cuts to reduce the roster to 12 for the World Championships, which begin August 19.

Krzyzewski also must select a captain and indicated that James, Anthony and Miami Heat star Wade will receive strong consideration.

At the outset of training camp in July, Krzyzewski - the first college coach put in charge of the national team since the advent of the NBA era in 1992 - said the goal was for the Americans to re-establish themselves as the dominant team in international basketball.

In 2002, the U.S. finished an embarrassing sixth at the World Championships, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars. It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where the Americans lost three more games and settled for the bronze medal.

The fall from the top prompted wholesale changes within USA Basketball, including the appointment of managing director Jerry Colangelo and a tryout process which had not been used since the 1980s.

In the World Championships, Team USA is in Group D with Puerto Rico, China, Senegal, Slovenia and Olympic silver medalist Italy, which routed the Americans in an exhibition prior to the 2004 Games.

Only the winner of the 24-team World Championships and the Olympic hosts automatically qualify for the 2008 Games in Beijing. If Team USA does not win the World Championships - which it has not done since 1994 - it must qualify through the 2007 FIBA Tournament of the Americas in Venezuela.

Source: Yahoo Sports