Spain routs Serbia 89-73 to go 5-0 at World Cup

GRANADA, Spain — Pau Gasol scored 20 points as Spain routed Serbia 89-73 to finish the group phase of the Basketball World Cup undefeated on Thursday and remain the United States' biggest challenger.

The new Chicago Bull center helped to ensure the game was effectively over by halftime with 14 first-half points to power the hosts to an insurmountable 19-point lead.

Spain drew the toughest group with European champion France, a Brazil with three NBA centers, and traditional power Serbia.

But future rivals beware: Brazil fell by 19 points, France by 24, and Serbia was down by double digits after just eight minutes.

Juan Carlos Navarro chipped 15 points for Spain, while substitute Nemanja Bjelica hit five 3-pointers to lead Serbia with 19 points.

Spain is so finely tuned it didn't seem frivolous in the least when Ricky Rubio dribbled the ball between the legs of center Miroslav Raduljica before assisting Jose Calderon on his second of consecutive 3-pointers to grow the lead to 48-33 late in the second quarter.

The game's end turned testy when Serbia coach Sasha Djordjevic was given two technical fouls and sent off under a minute left. Spain coach Juan Orenga and Rubio also got techinicals.

Spain had already clinched first place in Group A, pairing it with Senegal in the round of 16 starting Saturday.

"My players are prepared," said Orenga. "With Senegal begins the do-or-die."

While Spain heads to Madrid, the U.S. trades Bilbao for Barcelona to play an elimination game with Mexico after James Harden scored 17 points in a 95-71 victory over Ukraine as the Americans also finished 5-0 to top Group C.

In Seville, Greece hit the boards and beat Argentina 79-71 to win Group B with an immaculate record.

The Greeks outrebounded Argentina 41-25 and never trailed after the opening stages as Memphis Grizzlies guard Nick Calathes scored 18 points.

Greece will play Serbia next in Madrid, where Argentina (3-2) gets South American rival Brazil (4-1).

Lithuania snatched away the top spot in Group D with a 67-64 win over Slovenia in Gran Canaria.

Lithuania (4-1) held Slovenia (4-1) scoreless for the entire fourth quarter until Goran Dragic scored with 47 seconds to go. The Phoenix Sun guard went five-of-14 from the field, missing all five 3-pointers he took, to finish with 12 points.

Lithuania's victory slotted it to play New Zealand and meant it will avoid a possible meeting with the U.S. until the semifinals.

GROUP A

BRAZIL 128, EGYPT 65

Leandrinho Barbosa scored 22 points to lead a Brazil team that had already advanced. Egypt finished winless.

FRANCE 81, IRAN 76

France (3-2) withstood Iran's late rally with the Spanish home crowd roaring for an upset to get a 81-76 win that it needed to move on and play Croatia next. Guard Thomas Heurtel paced the European champions with 15 points, while forward Samad Nikkhah Bahrami had 23 for Iran (1-4).

GROUP B

CROATIA 103, PUERTO RICO 82

With the group's final playoff spot at stake, Brooklyn Net guard Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points to help book Croatia (3-2) a place in Madrid and send Puerto Rico packing. J.J. Barea scored 20 for Puerto Rico (1-4).

PHILIPPINES 81, SENEGAL 79, OT

Philippines waited 40 years for this moment, and almost let it slip away. Senegal's Maleye Ndoye made a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime at 64-64, but the Philippines (1-4) gritted out the extra period to record its first win at a world championship since 1974 and turn its exit from the tournament into a celebration.

GROUP C

NEW ZEALAND 67, FINLAND 65

New Zealand advanced and sent Finland and its raucous supporters home. Isaac Fotu scored 18 points for the Tall Blacks, while Gerald Lee had 18 points for Finland (1-4).

TURKEY 77, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 64

Oguz Savash scored 15 points for Turkey (3-2) as it claimed a date with Australia. Francisco Garcia had 18 points for the Dominican Republic (2-3), which will face Slovenia.

GROUP D

MEXICO 87, KOREA 71

Hector Hernandez scored 16 points as Mexico (2-3) secured a fourth-place finish in Group D. Taejong Moon scored 16 for winless Korea.

ANGOLA 91, AUSTRALIA 83

Yanick Moreira poured in 38 points as Angola (2-3) made up a 15-point deficit but fell short of qualifying for the knockout phase. Guard Chris Goulding scored 22 points for Australia (3-2).