Team USA challenged by Aussies

The U.S. basketball team will head to the Olympics on a decidedly unimpressive note, struggling Tuesday to get past an Australian team missing its leading star, former Utah Ute and current Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut.
The Americans were able to win all five games on their pre-Olympic tour with the 87-76 exhibition victory in Shanghai, China. But the Australians were within seven points in the fourth quarter and won the second half 47-43.
Deron Williams finished with 1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 turnovers in his least effective game so far.
Carlos Boozer was the only Team USA player not to get off the bench. Bogut sat out for Australia with an ankle injury.
The U.S. will head to Beijing to open Olympic pool play Sunday (8:15 a.m. MT) against China.
Dwyane Wade led the U.S. with 22 points, but Australia's Patrick Mills might have been the best guard on the floor. Mills, who plays in college at St. Mary's, had 13 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
- Ross Siler

Women's basketball

Lisa Leslie scored 14 points, and the United States held off Australia 71-67 to win the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament in Haining, China.
This was the first meeting between these two rivals with both teams
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at full strength since the 2004 Olympics gold medal game, won by the Americans 74-63.

Keeping tabs
The stats for Utah's Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer against Australia:

Min Pts. Reb. Ast. TO
Williams 18:31 1 2 0 3
Boozer DNP