Brazil stays unbeaten at worlds, faces US next

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Source: Yahoo! Sports

ISTANBUL (AP)—Leandro Barbosa(notes) scored 21 points and Brazil beat Tunisia 80-65 on Sunday to set up a matchup of unbeatens with the United States at the world basketball championship.

The Brazilians and Americans will bring 2-0 records into their game Monday night, with the winner having the inside track as the top seed from Group B.

Brazil (2-0) may have been looking ahead to that game, because it kept letting winless Tunisia back in this one after building a 16-point lead in the first half.

Barbosa scored 16 points in the first quarter—as many as Tunisia’s team— after the Toronto guard got a flurry of fast-break baskets late in the period. But it was a single-digit game in the final minute of the third period before Brazil pulled away again.

Forward Anderson Varejao(notes) of the Cleveland Cavaliers rested his sprained right ankle again but is expected to play against the Americans. Varejao, who was hurt during a recent exhibition game in Spain, was in uniform and lightly shot around during pregame before taking his seat on the bench.

The Brazilians haven’t needed him, opening the tournament against Iran and Tunisia, Group B’s two winless teams.

Tiago Splitter(notes), Brazil’s other top big man, added 16 points and Marcelo Machado scored 13.

Marouan Kechrid had 15 points for Tunisia (0-2) and Radhouane Slimane added 14 on 3-of-12 shooting.