China’s schedule at the 2012 London Olympics men’s basketball competition

(Prelim Round Group B)

July 29: lt to Spain 81-97

July 31: lt to Russia 54-73

Aug 2: lt to Australia 61-81

Aug 4: Vs. Brazil (1545 GMT)

Aug 6: Vs. Great Britain (1545 GMT)

Group Standings

LONDON, United Kingdom (2012 London Olympics): China flattered with an enthusiastic start only to deceive in the second and staged a valiant fightback in vain before going down 61-81 (Box scores) to FIBA Oceania’s Australia in a Group B Prelim Round game in the 2012 London Olympics men’s basketball competition on Thursday.

China, who thus suffered their third successive defeat, now face the uphill task of needing to win both their remaining games to keep their hopes making the quarterfinals alive.

Click here for post-game comments

It was the fourth successive defeat China have suffered against Australia this year China, having lost all the three games of the 2012 YouYi Games to Australia during the preparations to the 2012 London Olympics.

There were some sparkling moments from the Chinese end individually, but the Asian team certainly lacked the collective effort or the cohesive approach to beat the more organized and determined Aussies.

Wang Shipeng (pic above) led Chin’s scoring with a game-high 21 points – reeling in seven three-pointers, in 10 attempts – and also accounted for 3 rebounds and as many assists.

Yi Jianlian, currently the only Chinese playing in the NBA, pulled down a joint game-high 12 rebounds, but offensively had a forgettable 2/7 field shooting for his 13 points. The 25-year-old Dallas Mavericks center was carried off the court after the game with his knee wrapped in ice. Click here for details.

Veteran Wang Zhizhi, playing his fourth Olympics, also hauled down 12 rebounds but had only a free-throw to speak for in scoring failing with all his 8 looks at the goal.

Overall, though, China lagged 34-51 behind Australia in the battle of boards.

Zhu Fangyu played for only a little more than 3 minutes before