USA/GER – United States annihilate Germany to go unbeaten in Group B

BEIJING (Olympics) – The United States delivered a first-quarter knockout punch against Germany on Monday evening to remain the only undefeated side in the men’s basketball tournament at the Beijing Games.

The Americans, behind an excellent start from Dwight Howard and LeBron James, won 106-57 and will now take on Australia in the quarter-finals.

The USA stormed out to a 23-5 lead in the first seven minutes against Germany and ultimately won by 49 points – their largest margin of victory at this summer’s Olympics.

“We played against them four years ago, and that was a completely different team then,” Germany coach Dirk Bauermann said.

“Their chemistry now is so good, they defend - I think they’re unbeatable. I mean, you never know during 40 minutes of play what can happen, but I’d be extremely surprised if they didn’t win (the gold medal).”

USA coach Mike Krzyzewski agreed.

“We’re excited about finishing pool play undefeated and going on to the medal round,” Krzyzewski said.

“It’s time to win a gold medal.”

The USA missed out on gold at the 2002 and 2006 FIBA World Championships, and the Athens Olympics.

The Germans had no chance of advancing to the quarter-finals after suffering a narrow defeat to China on Saturday to drop to 1-3.

When asked where he and his teammates got their motivation to play as hard as they did against Germany, James said: “Just having that chip on our shoulder. Every game we go out and we try to get better. We don’t want to take a step back.”

Dirk Nowitzki had 14 points and eight rebounds, a performance that may have been his last with the Germans for a while with the Dallas Mavericks superstar having strongly hinted that he will take next summer off and not play at EuroBasket 2009 in Poland.

Bauermann hasn’t lost hope that Nowitzki will play again, though.

“I think it’s wide open,” the coach said.

“He told me he’s going to finish the (2008-09) NBA season, see how his body feels and see where he is in June.”

Germany center Chris Kaman, who said he will “definitely play” if Nowitzki competes with the national team next summer, only made three of nine shots from the floor and finished with six points and four rebounds.

He also had four of Germany’s 18 turnovers.

Howard scored eight of his game-high 22 points in that early spurt that saw the Americans open an 18-point lead.

James also scored 10 of his 18 points in the surge.

By the end of the opening frame, the lead was 31-12 and Krzyzewski’s men piled on the agony in each of the three quarters that followed.

The USA out-rebounded Germany 53-38.

Kobe Bryant finished with 13 points while Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul contributed 10 apiece.

Bryant said the Americans are full of respect for Australia, a team they played in Shanghai before the start of the Olympics.

The Boomers also thrashed Lithuania earlier Monday, 106-75.

“Australia plays a completely different style of game than we played tonight,” Bryant said.

“They run a continuity offense and they are very proficient at it, and they run hard cuts and hard picks. They are real smart, so it will be different ballgame.

“I expect them to play hard and tough. They won’t back down and will come ready to play.”

FIBA