Basketball

Luka Doncic and Slovenia are headed to the World Cup quarterfinals. So are the U.S., Germany and Lithuania. Out of the mix: Olympic bronze medalist Australia.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Everything had looked so easy for the U.S. at the Basketball World Cup. Points were coming in bunches, final scores were blowouts and stress wasn't a problem. Until Friday.

Japan is one win away from getting back to the Olympics.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The opponent names will become more recognizable for USA Basketball now.

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA referee Eric Lewis has retired effective immediately in the wake of a league investigation into whether he used a then-Twitter account to defend himself and other officials from online criticism.

Slovenia, Puerto Rico and Greece picked up victories Wednesday at the basketball World Cup to complete the field of 16 teams for the second round. Slovenia defeated Cape Verde 92-77, led by 19 points from NBA star Luka Doncic.

MADRID (AP) — Luka Doncic is going back to where he got his start — for one game. The NBA announced Wednesday that Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks will play a preseason game in October against reigning EuroLeague champion Real Madrid in Spain.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Another game, another blowout for the U.S. at the Basketball World Cup. And now the competition figures to get considerably tougher.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have signed former Houston Rockets guard TyTy Washington Jr. to a two-way contract. Washington, 21, made two starts and played a total of 31 games for the Rockets last season while averaging 4.7 points, 1.

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks waived center JaVale McGee on Tuesday, about a year after signing the free agent to a three-year contract with plans for him to start.