The United States began confidently while Lebanon brought a fragment of joy to their war-torn country on day one of the world basketball championship on Saturday.
Olympic gold medallists Argentina also made a smooth start but defending world champions Serbia & Montenegro fell victim to a run-and-gun Nigeria team in the first big upset in Japan. Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points as the US produced an efficient 111-100 win over Puerto Rico in their Group D opener. Fellow co-captain LeBron James added 15 points as the tournament favourites recovered from a slow start in Sapporo.
"At first I think we were over-excited finally starting," Anthony said. "Once we settled down we were good. From the second quarter there was no panic. We know we can score." The US finished an embarrassing sixth at the last world championship in Indianapolis in 2002 and took bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
They won the last of their three world titles in 1994 and their last Olympic gold medal in Sydney six years ago.
Lebanon's players were forced to endure an arduous bus journey through bombed-out villages into Syria and Jordan to escape Israeli air strikes before arriving in Japan. But they looked sharp in their opening Group A game with Venezuela, Fadi El Khatib pouring in 35 points in a convincing 82-72 victory.
New York Knicks guard Ime Udoka grabbed 18 points as Nigeria's tenacious defence and open-court speed brought a deserved 82-75 win over Serbia & Montenegro in Group A. Argentina avoided an early slip-up against France, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili hitting 22 points in a solid 80-70 win in the evening game in Group A.
Olympic silver medallists Italy overcame a rampant Yao Ming in an 84-69 victory over China and Slovenia underlined their credentials as potential dark horses with a 96-79 win over Senegal in Group D.
Yao scored 30 points but had little support while Gianluca Basile had 27 points to lead Italy, who made 13 of 25 three-point shots. Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Novitzki scored 27 points as Germany began with a comfortable 81-70 victory over hosts Japan in Group B.
African champions Angola beat Panama 83-70 and Spain blew past New Zealand 86-70 in later games in Hiroshima. Australia upset Brazil 83-77 in Group C with C.J. Bruton scoring 16 points and Sam Mackinnon 15 for the Boomers. European champions Greece overpowered Qatar 84-64 while Turkey produced a surprise 76-74 victory over three-times Olympic bronze medallists Lithuania in the other Group C games.
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