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NEW YORK - The United States tuned-up for the world basketball championships by routing France 86-55 in an exhibition on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
Guard Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies led the Americans in scoring with 19 points, followed by guard Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets with 17.
The French were paced by 15 points from Boris Diaw, a forward with the Charlotte Bobcats, who hit seven of 12 shots from the floor.
France played without Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls, both of whom are sitting out the FIBA world championships.
Before the game, the U.S. trimmed its squad to 13, one over the tournament limit, by cutting NBA players Jeff Green and JaVale McGee.
China was set to play Puerto Rico in the second game of the exhibition double-header before a sell-out crowd of just under 20,000.
The two-week world championships will be held in Turkey beginning Aug. 28.