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Puerto Rico eases past Yao-less China 92-76

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-16 09:58

NEW YORK - Carlos Arroyo scored 16 points to lead Puerto Rico to a 92-76 victory over China in a warmup for the basketball world championship at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

China guard Liu Wei and Puerto Rico guard Jose Juan Barea (bottom) scramble for a loose ball in the first half of their international exhibition basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, August 15, 2010. [Agencies]

Elias Ayuso and Peter John Ramos added 12 points each for Puerto Rico, while J.J. Barea had 11 points and 10 assists.

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Puerto Rico built a 16-point lead midway through the third quarter, then pulled away again after China wiped most of it away by the end of the period.

Yao Ming's absence had a huge impact on the Chinese team, who were plagued with below-par defense and low shooting percentage. The FIBA ninth-ranked team went 13 of 24 from 3-point range, but only managed 11 of 48 inside it.

Point guard Wang Shipeng, whose 3-pointer at the buzzer against Slovenia sent China to the second round of the world championships four years ago, scored 20 points and forward Sun Yue added 17. Washington Wizards forward Yi Jianlian shot 3 of 15 for only 11 points.

Down 56-40 with 4:36 left in the third quarter, China cut it to 60-56 on a 3-pointer by Liu Wei with 45 seconds left in the period. Arroyo knocked down two free throws, then nailed a jumper after a steal to make it an eight-point game, and Puerto Rico quickly pulled away again in the fourth.

ESPN has downgraded China to 17th in the power ranking after China suffered a humiliating 86-62 loss to Canada last week.

The United States beat France 86-55 in the first game of the doubleheader.