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ISTANBUL : After being stretched by Brazil on Monday, the United States found the going much easier against Iran on Wednesday running out victors 88-51.
As expected the Americans had few problems in overcoming Iran who have had just one win at the tournament to date. Iran did not help their cause with poor shooting, landing just three three-pointers for the game.
The USA shared the ball around early with seven players getting their name on the score sheet by the end of the quarter with USA leading 19-13.
By half-time Iran had fallen further in arrears with their rivals doing it easy, ahead 41-28 at the break.
Kevin Durant was the best of the Americans in the first half with 11 points. Tyson Chandler was doing the work defensively, pulling down six rebounds.
For Iran Arsalan Kazemi was the main contributor with nine points, playing every minute of the first half.
Following the break the States continued from where they had left off at the end of the first, putting another 20 points on a hapless Iran, as their lead continued to climb with USA leading by 23 with a quarter still to play.
As he did in the first two games of the tournament USA coach Mike Krzyzewski again cleared his bench with the game wrapped up. By the time the final whistle signalled an 88-51 victory for USA, the whole USA team averaged more than 10 minutes court time.
Kevin Love top-scored for the Americans with 13 points while Durant added just a further point in the second half to finish with 12. For Iran Hamed Ehadadi scored a game high 19 points, while Kazemi supported him with 14.
The winners will play their final pool game against the winless Tunisia on Thursday.
World basketball championship results on Wednesday:
Group A
Serbia 94 Australia 79
Angola 92 Germany 88 in over-time
Argentina 88 Jordan 79
Group B
Croatia 84 Tunisia 64
USA 88 Iran 51
Slovenia 80 Brazil 77
Group C
Russia 89 China 80
Greece 97 Ivory Coast 60
Turkey 79 Puerto Rico 77
Group D
New Zealand 71 Canada 61
Spain 91 Lebanon 57
Lithuania 69 France 55
- AFP/de
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