Americans rout Iran to remain unbeaten at Worlds
Istanbul, Turkey (Sports Network) - Kevin Love scored 13 points and Kevin Durant added 12 to lead a balanced attack, as the United States remained unbeaten at the 2010 FIBA World Championship with an 88-51 rout of Iran.
Derrick Rose chipped in 11 points and Danny Granger netted 10 for the Americans, who bounced back from a narrow 70-68 victory over Brazil on Monday and improved to 4-0 to secure the top spot in Group B.
The U.S. will conclude preliminary round play on Thursday against winless Tunisia.
Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies led Iran with 19 points and Arsalan Kazemi of Rice University added 14.
Iran took a 5-3 lead early in the contest and was within 12-10 late in the first, but the Americans answered with seven straight points and took a 19-13 edge to the second period.
A three-pointer by Eric Gordon and a bucket by Russell Westbrook to open the second extended the U.S. lead to 11. The margin grew to 15 before the Americans settled for a 42-28 cushion at the break.
Rose scored four points in an 8-0 run to start the second half and the Iranians never threatened from there.
Canada, meanwhile, remained winless in four games after a 71-61 loss to New Zealand in Group D. Kirk Penney scored 18 points and Casey Frank added 14 for the Kiwis, who improved to 2-2 and will advance to the second round.
Jevohn Shepherd paced Canada with 15 points and Joel Anthony of the Miami Heat added 13 in defeat.
New Zealand built a 35-28 lead at halftime and opened a 13-point advantage in the third quarter before Canada trimmed the deficit to 47-41 heading to the fourth. The Canadians closed to within four early in the final period, but New Zealand slowly pulled away and led by as many as 11 in the final minute.
Canada will conclude preliminary round play on Thursday against Spain.
Also on Wednesday, Croatia pounded Tunisia, 84-64, and Slovenia nipped Brazil, 80-77, in Group B, while Spain mauled Lebanon, 91-57, behind 25 points from Marc Gasol and Lithuania defeated France, 69-55, in Group D.
Host Turkey stayed undefeated and ensured its spot atop the Group C standings with a narrow 79-77 win over Puerto Rico as Hedo Turkoglu and Ersan Ilyasova accounted for 16 and 13 points, respectively. Meanwhile, Russia topped China, 89-80, and Greece dismantled the Ivory Coast, 97-60, in other Group C encounters.
In Group A, Serbia thumped Australia, 94-79, behind 14 points and 10 rebounds from Nenad Krstic, Argentina got by Jordan, 88-79, on the strength of Luis Scola's 30-point, 13-rebound effort and Angola slipped by Germany, 92-88.
