The United STATES men's Olympic basketball team and its all-star cast put on a dazzling show of soaring slams and tomahawk dunks, yesterday, drawing rousing ovations as it beat China 101-70 in one of the most anticipated events of the Beijing Games.

US President George W. Bush cheered from the stands as, NBA stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant coaxed 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from the red-flag waving crowd at Beijing's basketball arena.

"Look, I had five dunks in one game. That's because of the crowd," said Kobe Bryant. "Last time, I had five dunks in a game, I was like, 17. So that's all because of the energy in this crowd. I think they knew that history was being made tonight and, obviously, it was a proud moment for their country as it was for ours. You could feel the electricity."

Wade scored 19 points, James had 18 and Bryant finished with 13 points for the Americans in a match that USA basketball officials were told could draw the largest viewing audience ever for a sporting event.

China's Yao Ming, all-star centre for the Houston Rockets, finished with 13 points. He started the showcase by drilling a three-pointer from the top of the key for the first score of the game.