SHANGHAI — Jaylen Brown scored 20 points, Kemba Walker added 15 and the U.S. World Cup team finally got to enjoy an easy night, rolling past Japan 98-45 Thursday in the Group E finale.
Harrison Barnes scored 14 points while Joe Harris and Donovan Mitchell each had 10 for the Americans (3-0), who are bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title.
And now, the NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo awaits the Americans as the stakes get higher.
The U.S. is headed to a pair of second-round games in Shenzhen, China — with the first one Saturday against Antetokounmpo and Greece.