Reigning Olympic basketball champion Argentina led by NBA stars Luis Scola and Manu Ginobili knocked off Australia 95-91 Friday to win the FIBA Diamond Cup, a warm-up event ahead of next week's Olympic Games. Scola, who plays for the NBA Houston Rockets, scored 30 of his 32 points in the second half to help Argentina overcome a 54-35 third quarter deficit and seal the victory. Ginobili, who finished the night with 24 points, scored 12 in the third quarter and another seven in the last 80 seconds as his side clawed their way back against a stubborn Australian side. Australia extended a 47-35 halftime lead to 18 points in the early going of the third period behind a balanced attack led by David Barlow who finished the night with 16 points. But from then on Scola and Ginobili took over, with the Houston Rocket tying the game at 81-81 with a three point play with just over three minutes left and opening the way for Ginobili's heroics. In an earlier match, China used an all-around attack and a stifling defense to beat Asian champion Iran 75-46 to take third place in the tournament. China played its best match since giant center Yao Ming rejoined the national side six games ago. USA sounds warning In Macau, LeBron James' Team USA buried European heavyweight Lithuania 120-84 on Friday to lay down a marker for reclaiming the Olympic title. The 12-time champion, humbled at Athens 2004, matched defensive ferocity with offensive class as they shot to a big early lead, stifled a brief comeback, and then ran away with it in front of a packed arena.
