FIBA World Cup: Team USA advances, heartbreak for Lithuania

Team USA defense wins the day, Czechs keep rolling

At Shenzhen, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks got off to a fast start, scoring five points in the first 43 seconds of the game and notching seven in the first period as Team USA could only manage a 19-17 lead after 10 minutes.

But the U.S. defense clamped down afterward and Greece never was able to adjust. USA Basketball coach Gregg Popovich opted to go small much of the game against the larger Greek squad and it worked.

Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics was guarding all over the floor depending on matchups, taking on everyone from point guards to centers and everything in between, and the U.S. steadily pulled away for a 69-53 victory and a berth in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals.

Defense is going to have to carry this American team, because it continues to not shoot the ball well. Team USA shot 36 percent (24-for-66) overall on Saturday and made only 7-of-30 from 3-point range (23 percent).

In four games in China this far, the U.S. is hitting only 42.5 percent overall and making 32.8 percent from 3. But they’ve held their last two opponents — Japan and Greece — to a combined 98 points after giving up 67 to the Czech Republic in their opener and 92 in an overtime win over Turkey.

As poorly as Team USA shot the ball, however, Greece was worse. The Greeks made only 32 percent (21-for-66) overall and hit 7-of-27 (26 percent) from deep, exacerbating the problem by going 4-for-10 at the foul line, where the U.S. made 14-of-16.

The bigger Greeks were also hammered on the boards by a 50-40 margin.

Boston’s Kemba Walker paced the Americans with 15 points and had six assists. Celtic wing Jaylen Brown had nine rebounds and Joe Harris of the Brooklyn Nets had eight, while Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings checked in with three steals.

Antetokoumpo played 27 minutes and finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, going 7-for-11. The rest of the Greek squad was 14-for-55, however.

Ioannis Papapetrou, who shot so well in Greece’s win over New Zealand on Thursday, was just 3-for-11 and Georgios Printezis, the leading scorer for the Greeks in the first round, was 2-for-10.

In the first game in Shenzhen, the Czech Republic took control of their matchup with Brazil in the second quarter and just kept hammering away in the 93-71 victory.

Satoransky led the charge, but had quality help. Ondrej Balvin finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds and four Czechs finished in double figures as they shot 56.2 percent (36-for-64) overall and were 8-for-20 (40 percent) from long range.

Brazil managed just 40.3 percent overall (27-for-67) and was just 8-for-27 (29.6 percent) from deep. Vitor Benite scored 12 points to lead the Brazilians, who trailed by as much as 29 points.

On Monday, the Czechs and Greeks battle in a huge game — potentially — at 4:30 a.m. Eastern, with Brazil and Team USA tipping at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

If Greece wins the opener by eight points or more, they may remain in the arena waving American flags, as Greece would need a U.S. win to advance.