Any team with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in the lineup is going to score. Sure enough, the United States had no problem doing so in the first quarter yesterday -- but neither did Turkey.

The Americans didn't pull away until their offensive superstars decided to be defensive stoppers. James scored 20 points and was a defensive force in his exhibition debut, helping the U.S. Olympic team overcome some early sloppy play to beat Turkey, 114-82, in its first game in Macau, China.

"We love defense as a team because we have a lot of guys who can get at it defensively, cause some havoc and make a lot of plays," guard Dwyane Wade said.

James made them on both ends of the floor. The NBA's leading scorer was 8 of 9 from the field and finished with six rebounds, five steals and four assists in 23 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter.

Carmelo Anthony added 17 points for the Americans, who shot 69.5 percent (41 of 59) from the field.

They improved to 2-0 in Olympic tuneup play and face Lithuania today before moving on to Shanghai for their remaining two games.

The U.S. women's Olympic basketball team is part of the six-team FIBA Diamond Ball tournament that begins tomorrow in Haining, China. The tournament features four of the top teams in the world with the United States, Russia, Australia, and China all playing. The United States will open Sunday against Latvia.

Track and field

With one week to go before the Beijing Olympics, Russia suddenly has its own version of a BALCO doping scandal involving some of the team's biggest stars.

After a 1 1/2-year investigation, the IAAF provisionally suspended seven female athletes yesterday, accusing them of tampering with their urine samples. The list includes Yelena Soboleva, a world record-holder and world champion runner who was favored to win the 800 and 1,500 meters at the Olympics.

The seven athletes come from several disciplines, from middle-distance running to the hammer and discus throw.

The athletes could still compete at the Games if they get an emergency ruling lifting the suspension. Athletes have 14 days to request a hearing with their national federation.

Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Games yesterday with a shoulder injury. The three-time Grand Slam singles champion said that medical tests show she has two small tears in her shoulder's tendons.

• Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open finalist, is out of the Games with a right wrist injury.