BEIJING - In one heartpounding minute in the first half, LeBron James dunked off a nifty underhanded feed from Dwyane Wade. Then Kobe Bryant flew in and jammed. Then it was Chris Bosh's turn to rattle the rim.

As the backboard swayed, some might have recalled the fabled Dream Team. The final score - U.S. 101, China 70 - might also draw comparisons.

Who's worried about the 7-for-29 shooting from beyond the arc? Just toss it up and throw it down.

This was the biggest basketball game in China's history and perhaps the most-watched basketball game ever - and the U.S. wanted to turn in a performance to match the moment as it took its first step toward Olympic hoops redemption.

“I've never felt an environment quite like this,” said Bryant, a veteran of five NBA Finals. “I've played in many big games, but the energy tonight was different.

“I think they knew that history was being made tonight,” Bryant said. “Obviously, it was a proud moment for their country as it is for ours. You could feel the electricity.”

Two nights after China put on a spectacular opening ceremony, it shared the spotlight with the nation that invented basketball.

The sparkling Wukesong Indoor Stadium began to buzz an hour before tipoff. But it didn't feel like much of a homecourt for the Chinese.

Team USA took the floor to a roar that was every bit as loud as the cheer when China came out of the dressing room. Bryant got as much applause as Chinese icon Yao Ming during pregame introductions.