SHANGHAI - Passionate Chinese fans had a genuine appreciation for the basketball on display Friday night at Mercedes Benz Arena.
The 18,000-plus crowd couldn't have cared less that it was a preseason game.
When Dennis Smith took off flying over a couple of Philadelphia 76ers for one of his dunk attempts, jaws dropped all around the arena.
When Wesley Matthews threw in one of his 3-pointers, his bow-and-arrow shtick was repeated by some fans.
Heck, they even knew how to hold a good grudge, booing Philly's J.J. Redick, who had made what was perceived as a disparaging comment toward people of Chinese descent last February, only to say he got "tongue tied.