Basketball

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The first required step at the Basketball World Cup for the Americans is now complete. They're going to the tournament's second round. An achievement, technically — but one barely worth acknowledging.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — South Sudan is the world's youngest nation, gaining its independence only 12 years ago.

It was the Luka Doncic show again at the World Cup. After scoring 37 points in Slovenia's opening-game victory against Venezuela, he came through with 34 on Monday in an 88-67 win over Georgia.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — RJ Barrett scored a game-high 17 points and Canada cruised to a 128-73 win over Lebanon on Sunday at the FIBA Men's Basketball World Cup.

Nicolas Batum has been part of France's national team for about 15 years now. He was part of a gold-medal game loss to the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics. Part of another gold-medal game loss at last year's EuroBasket.

France came to the World Cup planning to win gold. It won't even make the second round, an absolutely stunning development for the reigning Olympic silver medalists.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — It was late in the first quarter of the U.S. team's opener at the FIBA World Cup.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract with starting forward P.J. Washington, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Paolo Banchero knows all about the haka, the traditional dance that was performed by New Zealand's players pregame on Saturday as the traditional rallying cry to show national pride and serve as a challenge to opponents.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Canada has never won a medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. France was favoured to collect another one this year. One game in and the conversation for both teams has changed.