China's basketball team smashed NBA development defending champions Albuquerque Thunderbirds 82-55 on Thursday to start strong in their first warm-up for the Asian Games in Qatar running from December 1-15.

Former NBA Miami Heat center Wang Zhizhi, who came back home playing for Bayi Rockets of CBA, rained in 16 points to set up the home side, and guard Zhu Fangyu from Guangdong Tigers added 15 points.

China established a four-point advantage in the tedious first half with a 31-27 lead going into the break. China cushioned their victory in the third quarter by confining the Thunderbirds to eight points only, piling up an 18 point lead and holding through the fourth quarter.

The two teams will play their next match in Macau on Nov. 18 as part of China's training for the Asiad showdown in Qatar.

In 2002, Asian Games host South Korea upset China in over-time in the championship match in Yao Ming's last game before joining the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets.

"Playing the defending champions of the NBA D-League provides our national team with a unique opportunity to improve its overall level of competition and gives the players the chance to develop their individual technical skills and talent," said Li Yuanwei, China Basketball Association vice president.

The move is also part of a drive to help China's basketball team improve before the 2008 Beijing Olympics by providing greater exposure to top-level competition from outside China.

"This is especially important for the younger Chinese players who will play a significant role for the future of Chinese Basketball," Li said.

The Thunderbirds are coached by Michael Cooper, who guided the women's NBA Los Angeles Sparks to their 2001 and 2002 titles and won five NBA titles as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2006)