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US survives test, holds on to edge Brazil 70-68

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-08-31 10:57

ISTANBUL - The United States survived its first tough test at the world championships, edging Brazil 70-68 on Monday when Leandro Barbosa's shot rattled out at the buzzer.

? USA's Kevin Durant (R) drives past Brazil's Alex Garcia (L) in the first half of their FIBA Basketball World Championship game in Istanbul, August 30, 2010. [Agencies]

Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 15 for the Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But this was further proof that a world title won't come easily for this young US team - if it comes at all.

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After the Americans trailed most of the first 2 quarters, Lamar Odom's dunk with 7:14 left put them ahead 64-62. But they couldn't build on the lead during a tense final few minutes, and Brazil had two chances to send the game to overtime.

Following a miss by Billups, Brazil got the ball and Marcelo Huertas was fouled on a drive to the basket with 3.5 seconds remaining. He missed the first free throw and then the second intentionally, tracking it down in the corner and firing it underneath to Barbosa, who put up a shot over Kevin Love, only to have it bounce off the back and front of the rim.

Barbosa finished with 14 points after a strong start for Brazil (2-1). Marcus Vinicius scored 16, and Tiago Splitter had 13 while battling foul trouble in the second half.

Also in Group B, Iran (1-2) earned its first victory ever at the world championship by beating Tunisia (0-3) behind 23 points and 13 rebounds from Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Uros Slokar and Jaka Lakovic scored 15 points each, and Slovenia (2-1) beat Croatia 91-84 in the first game of the day in Istanbul. Croatia (1-2) shot 55 percent from 3-point range but was only 15 of 26 from the foul line.

With NBA big men Nene, Anderson Varejao and Splitter, Brazil was considered one of the teams with enough size to topple the undersized Americans. Nene had to pull out with an injury and Varejao sat out again while continuing to rest a sprained right ankle, so the Brazilians turned to a speed game to lead for much of the game.

They just couldn't finish the upset, leaving the Americans needing only a victory over Iran or Tunisia, the bottom two teams in Group B, or another Brazil loss to earn the top seed from the group and three full days off before meeting the No. 4 seed from Group A on September 6.

The Americans have plenty to work on before worrying about that, after needing a huge night from Durant and 31 minutes from Billups, the old man of the team at 33, to pull this one out.

Brazil is coached by Ruben Magnano, who guided Argentina to victories over the US in the 2002 worlds and 2004 Olympics, when the Argentines won gold. He nearly authored another upset.

US coach Mike Krzyzewski used his reserves liberally in the first two games, but gave much longer runs to the starters Monday after the backups were ineffective during their first stints.

In Group A in Kayseri, Luis Scola scored 32 points to help Argentina beat Angola 91-70, essentially securing its place in the second round.

Scola scored 17 of Argentina's 23 points in the first quarter as the South Americans built a three-point lead. The Houston Rockets power forward finished the first half with 21 points as Argentina (3-0) took a 45-32 lead into the break.

Joaquim Gomes had 16 for Angola (1-2).

Patty Mills scored 16 points as Australia (2-1) cruised to a 78-43 victory over cold-shooting Germany, which may have been tired after a double-overtime victory over Serbia a day earlier.

Germany (1-2) scored the first basket before watching Australia go on a 12-0 run. The lead reached 22 before Australia took a 38-20 lead into halftime. Germany shot 27 percent from the field in the first half and 26 percent for the game.

Serbia (2-1) rebounded from the loss to the Germans with a 112-69 victory over Jordan (0-3). Dusko Savanovic and Marko Keselj each scored 21 points as Serbia shot 71.7 percent from the field.