FIBA World Cup 2014: Team USA tops Ukraine, survives Kyrie Irving injury scare

Another slow start, another eventual blowout win for Team USA. The Americans trailed after the first quarter against Ukraine on Thursday, but rallied over the next three quarters to complete an easy 95-71 win in the final contest of the group stage.

The victory ensures that USA is the top team in Group C and will earn an opening matchup against Mexico in the opening game of the elimination stage. It also continues a trend of poor starts for the team, but for now that narrative is being overshadowed by the team’s regular second-half dominance.

Team USA comfortably topped Ukraine to finish off pool play, but received a scare in the closing seconds. Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving fell square on his back while driving through multiple defenders and limped to the locker room.

However, he later tweeted that he was OK and shouldn’t miss much time.

UPDATE: The alleged tanking worked. Slovenia collapsed down the stretch in the Group D finale, allowing Lithuania to win the group and pushing Australia to third place. Read on for more on why this benefits Australia.

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The United States has the clinched the top seed in Group C with a 4-0 start in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, but coach Mike Krzyzewski’s team has one more game in pool play remaining before the knockout round. Team USA will play Ukraine on Thursday in the final tuneup before the single elimination portion of the tournament.

The U.S. enters at 4-0, but the rest of the group is bunched together. Ukraine as one of three teams currently sitting at 2-2, while New Zealand and Finland are each 1-3. Four of the six teams will advance from the group.