The United States stopped the pick-and-rolls – and just about everything else – to beat Greece 92-69 yesterday at the Beijing Olympics.

These Americans that looked so lost two years ago appear to have found their Olympic defensive way.

China also won, getting 30 points from Yao Ming in a 85-68 win over Angola.

Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh each scored 18 points for the United States (3-0), which clinched a spot in the medal round and moves on to a matchup of Group B unbeatens tomorrow against world champion Spain.

Greece stunned the Americans two years ago in the semifinals of the world championships, shredding the U.S. defense for 63 percent shooting with clinical execution of its pick-and-roll offense in a 101-95 victory.

This time, the Americans had an answer for everything, using a suffocating defense to extend a seven-point lead into a 19-point cushion in the final 5 1-2 minutes of the first half.

Theo Papaloukas scored 15 points for Greece, which found things easy against the Americans two years ago but not this time. The Greeks had 26 field goals but committed 25 turnovers.

China used an overwhelming height advantage to dominate under the basket and exploit frequently sloppy play by the African champions for easy baskets.

Yao drilled 10 of 11 field goals for 91 percent shooting, matched by 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Sun Yue added 11 points for China, sinking all four of his field goals, including two three pointers.

In other games, Brad Newley scored 24 points to lead Australia to a 106-68 win against Iran. Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol had 13 points in Spain's 72-59 victory against Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki and Germany.

Nowitzki scored 11 points for Germany.

Rimantas Kaukenas scored a team-leading 20 points as Lithuania defeated Russia. In what had been an extremely close game, Lithuania pulled ahead for the final time 82-77 on a thundering three-pointer by Jonas Maciulis with just over three minutes to go.

Argentina beat Croatia 77-53 in the final game of the day.