Olympics: US tested but outlasts Lithuania 99-94

But the US NBA Dream Team received its toughest test yet at the London Games only two nights after unleashing an Olympic record 156-point performance in a shooting practice of a victory over Nigeria.

James and Carmelo Anthony each scored 20 points while Kevin Durant added 16 as the Americans remained unbeaten despite a 25-point effort from Lithuanian captain Linas Kleiza of the NBA Toronto Raptors.

Darius Songaila sank a jumper to pull Lithuania within 87-86 before James took charge with nine points in a game-winning 12-2 US run, hitting a 3-pointer to start the spurt and a layup to end it in the dying seconds.

The US multi-millionaires rose to 58-1 record under coach Mike Krzyzewski since revamping the national team program after settling for bronze at the 2004 Olympics.

The Lithuanians have a history with the US squad that includes a 1998 world championships victory, a 94-90 triumph at the 2004 Olympics and an 85-83 loss at the 2000 Olympics when a half-court buzzer shot fell short.

The US NBA stars led 78-72 entering the fourth quarter but Kleiza sparked a 10-2 Lithuania run to give the Europeans an 82-80 edge, setting the stage for the closing drama.

Sarunas Jasikevicius sank a 3-pointer 36 seconds into the third quarter to give Lithuania a 56-55 lead.

But the Americans struck for the next seven points, two James layups sandwiched around a 3-pointer by reigning NBA scoring champion Durant within a 24-second span for a 62-56 US edge.

Anthony sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Americans a 33-25 lead after the first quarter, but Kleiza helped pull the Europeans within 55-51 at half-time.

Kleiza had 16 points in the first half while Anthony had 14 to lead the Americans.