Unleashing a lethal 3-point barrage for the first time in Beijing, the Americans turned the marquee matchup of the preliminary round into another romp, beating Spain 119-82 Saturday night to clinch the top seed in their group.

Several waves of strong thunderstorms rolled through the Puget Sound area Wednesday night and Thursday, bringing large hail, gusty winds, over 2,500 lightning strikes and heavy rain. The worst has passed, and none too soon for many water-logged communities.

For several years, diacetyl, a chemical that gives foods a buttery taste, has been linked to a rare, irreversible lung disease. The result has been a public health debate that has stretched from Congress to courtrooms across the nation.

Sam Cassell led a rally from 13 points down in his first game with the Clippers, as Los Angeles beat the Seattle SuperSonics 101-93 on Wednesday night.