Unbeaten U.S. tops Slovenia 114-95

SAPPORO, Japan -- LeBron James and the rest of the U.S. starters were yanked less than halfway through the first quarter.

They hadn't done anything wrong; it was just time for the second team to come in.

That one was better than Slovenia, too.

Using both units to wear down and outrun the Slovenians, the Americans rolled to a 114-95 victory Tuesday, remaining unbeaten and clinching a spot in the round of 16 at the world championships.

"It seems to favor our team," Elton Brand said. "You don't have to pace yourself at all because you know you're going to get a certain amount of minutes. You know you're going to be in there, and you know you're going to play. So once you're out there, you play hard, and you can try to wear down teams."

Dwyane Wade scored 20 points for the U.S. team (3-0), which plays Italy, also unbeaten in Group D, on Wednesday. James added 19 in his most impressive performance of the tournament.

James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Shane Battier started the game, but U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski sent Wade, Brand, Antawn Jamison, Kirk Hinrich and Joe Johnson out together midway through the first period.

The second unit put a stop to Slovenia's strong start, and both groups contributed to the big run that blew open the game in the second quarter.

Brand finished with 16 points, and Anthony had 14. All but one of the U.S. players scored.

Slovenia, with four NBA players on its roster, was widely considered the second-most talented team in the group. But the Slovenians have lost consecutive games to the group co-leaders after beating Senegal on Saturday in their world championships debut.

"We did our best, but once the Americans started playing their defense very strongly, that was our problem," Slovenia's Saso Ozbolt said through a translator.

Sani Becirovic led Slovenia (1-2) with 18 points. Primoz Brezec and Bostjan Nachbar each added 15.