Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves scored 15 points and had six assists, both team highs, as the U.S. routed Greece, 109-81, Monday in a FIBA Basketball World Cup game in Manila, the Philippines.
Reaves was among four players who entered the group phase game with one minute, 40 seconds left in the 10-minute first quarter and the U.S. leading, 21-17.
“Our first unit really wears down the opponent in the first quarter,” Reaves said. “By the time we get in there, we got fresh legs and we’re able to get out and run. If the roles would be reversed, we started, I think it would be the same thing with the roles flipped.”
The U.S. outscored Greece by 19 in the 17:17 Reaves was on the court, matching Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson for the game’s best plus/minus.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson each added 13 and Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. 10 for the U.S., which trailed 6-2, 8-7 and 10-8 before taking the lead for good on Memphis Grizzlies forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 3-point basket with 5:26 left in the first quarter.
The U.S. led 23-19 at the end on the first quarter, 50-37 at halftime and 79-56 after three quarters in the Group C game at Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory and Jordan’s 95-87 loss to New Zealand, assured the U.S. (2-0) a spot in the second round of the 32-team tournament.
Center Georgios Papagiannis led Greece (1-1) with 17 points. Papagiannis was the 13th selection in the 2016 NBA draft and played 39 games with the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers over the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He now plays for the Turkish team Fenerbahce.
Greece’s one current NBA player, Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo scored two points in 22:29. He is the older brother of two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is not playing in the tournament as he recovers from offseason surgery on his left knee.
Greece is ninth in the rankings compiled by FIBA, basketball’s international governing body, based on recent tournament performances. The U.S. is ranked second behind Spain.
The U.S. will complete group phase play against Jordan (0-2) Wednesday at 1:40 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time in Manila in a game to be televised by ESPN2.