GRANADA, Spain (AP) β 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 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.
Spain had already clinched first place in Group A, meaning it will play Senegal in Madrid in the round of 16 starting on Saturday.
