U.S. beats Slovenia to reach Basketball World Cup semifinals

Klay Thompson scored 20 points and James Harden had 12 of his 14 points in the third quarter after a scoreless first half, helping the U.S. turn a close game into a 119-76 rout of Slovenia on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Basketball World Cup in Barcelona, Spain.

Kenneth Faried also had 14 for the Americans, who will play Lithuania on Thursday in Barcelona for a spot in Sunday’s gold-medal game in Madrid. Lithuania beat Turkey, 73-61, earlier Tuesday.

Derrick Rose finished with 12 points after coming into the game shooting eight for 37 in the World Cup.

Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns lead Slovenia with 13 points.

The Americans led by five points early in the third quarter before going on a 27-10 run. Harden and Stephen Curry finally got going after the All-Stars combined to miss all 12 shots in the first half.