In the final game of Group E play, Team USA dominated Japan as former Duke Basketball star Jayson Tatum did not play and Mason Plumlee saw extended minutes.
Coming off a scary overtime victory over Turkey in the second game of the FIBA World Cup, Team USA could relax in its third and final Group E game on Thursday morning.
First, the Americans clinched its spot as the top team in Group E with its win over Turkey and were able to cruise to a 53-point win over Japan.
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One major negative that came out of the win over Turkey was the ankle sprain to star forward Jayson Tatum.
Tatum did not play against Japan and the Blue Devil was ruled out for Team USA’s next two games, including the win over Japan.
Next up for Team USA is the reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Team Greece.
Jayson Tatum’s Boston Celtic teammate Marcus Smart also didn’t play on Thursday morning for Team USA.
Due to the margin of victory and the two injuries, former Duke Blue Devil Mason Plumlee saw the most game action of his FIBA World Cup.
The Denver Nuggets big man played just under 17 minutes, but only scored two points in the USA’s 98-45 victory.
Plumlee also grabbed five rebounds while shooting 1-of-3 from the field.
Out of the other two big men on Team USA, Brook Lopez and Myles Turner slightly edged out Plumlee in minutes played on Thursday.
Team USA will move from Shanghai, China to Shenzhen for the Second Round on Saturday, September 7 at 8:30am EST against Team Greece.
Greece went 2-1 in the First Round in Group F, losing to Brazil, but defeating New Zealand and Montenegro.
USA joins Greece, Brazil, and the Czech Republic in Group K in the Second Round of the FIBA World Cup.
Fans will be able to tune into Team USA on Saturday morning on ESPN+.