FIBA World Cup: 2nd round taking shape; Day 3 takeaways

Looking ahead to Day 4

In Group E, Team USA may be playing to clinch a second-round spot if the Czech Republic can take care of business against Japan in the opening game of play from Shanghai on Tuesday.

Japan and the Czech each lost on Sunday and will tip at 4:30 a.m. Eastern looking to stay alive.

The nightcap featured Sunday’s first-game winners, Team USA and Turkey. If Japan loses the first game, it will make the USA-Turkey contest a potential clincher for a second-round berth.

It will also be a battle between the favorites in Group F in Nanjing, with Greece and Brazil playing in the 8 a.m. Eastern slot after Montenegro and New Zealand tip off play from that venue at 4 a.n. Eastern.

Greece hammered Montenegro 85-60 in its opening game Sunday, while Brazil had to work a lot harder to put away the Kiwis, 102-94. A Montenegro loss in the opener makes it a potential clinching game for Greece, while a loss by New Zealand sets up the same scenario for Brazil.

Group G features Germany taking the court in Shenzhen looking to stay alive after their narrow loss to France on Sunday. The Dominicans held off hard-charging Jordan for a four-point win in their opener.

France, heavily favored to win the group, will face Jordan — which is likely to struggle much more against veteran-laden Les Bleus. Germany and the Dominican meet at 4:30 a.m. Eastern, followed by Jordan and France at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

Group H — with three solid squads vying for only two slots into the second round — will tip off at 3:30 a.m. Eastern with 1-0 Australia, fresh off a 16-point win over Canada, taking on 0-1 Senegal, which was worked over by Lithuania 101-47.

The Boomers are expected to prevail in that matchup, which would put Canada in a win-or-classification-round scenario against the Lithuanians in the second game at 7:30 a.m. Eastern.

Canada’s chances will likely hinge on the ability of Khem Birch to slow down Jonas Valanciunas in the paint.