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."

"The excitement of it, the anxiousness of it, the anticipation was just crazy," said Dwyane Wade, who led the U.S. with 19 points.