Basketball: US thrash Japan in World Cup

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. hammered Japan 98-45 in Thursday's 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup group match and advanced to the last 16 stage.

The U.S. won all its matches in the Group E, beating Czech Republic, Turkey and Japan.

Jaylen Brown is the top performer for the U.S. against Japan, scoring 20 points and taking seven rebounds.

The U.S. star, Kemba Walker, contributed to the massive win with 15 points and eight assists.

Harrison Barnes -- playing as a forward for the U.S. -- scored 14 points and took eight rebounds.

Team USA guards, Joe Harris and Donovan Mitchell tallied 10 points each in Shanghai, China.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, 21, didn't play in this match.

Yudai Baba of Japan scored 18 points against the U.S.

Small forward Baba, 23, was the only player scoring in double digits for Japan in the match.

Japan lost all three games in the group and they will play classification matches.

The second round in China 2019 will begin on Friday.

- Thursday's results:

Canada - Senegal: 82-60

Brazil - Montenegro: 84-73

Turkey - Czech Republic: 76-91

Germany - Jordan: 96-62

Lithuania - Australia: 82-87

Greece - New Zealand: 103-97

US - Japan: 98-45

Dominican Republic - France: 56-90

- Second round groups in World Cup:

Group I: Argentina, Poland, Venezuela, Russia

Group J: Serbia, Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico

Group K: US, Brazil, Greece, Czech Republic

Group L: France, Australia, Lithuania, Dominican Republic