The U.S. was so dominant in group play the only drama was who collected a DNP.
An ankle injury to Jrue Holiday removed that suspense Saturday as the Americans bulldozed Puerto Rico, 100-74, easily clinching the top seed in next week’s quarterfinal.
The Americans needed only to win by 5 to clear Germany for the top seed, and that seemed in the bag by halftime against the tiny commonwealth island.
The second half, highlighted by an Anthony Edwards windmill jam, was a breeze to the final buzzer.
Edwards was the star with 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting.
Otherwise, American scoring was balanced with double digits from LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis.
Durant also grabbed four boards to surpass Carmelo Anthony as U.S. Basketball’s all-time leading rebounder.
After Tatum and Embiid didn’t play in games 1 and 2, respectively, coach Steve Kerr swapped out his entire starting lineup in the first quarter and gave time to every available player.
Only Holiday, who is expected to be healthy for the quarterfinal, was a DNP.
Now comes the hard part.
Although their quarterfinal opponent isn’t yet known, they’re now in the knockout phase with Canada, France, Germany, Brazil, Australia and two TBDs.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver made the trip to Paris to watch the game against Puerto Rico, which shocked the U.S. in the 2004 Olympics.
Twenty years later, there was no such upset.
Not even close.
The Puerto Ricans started hot with a 25-17 lead, but the Americans took control for good with a dominant second quarter and a 19-point lead at halftime.
Puerto Rico was led by Jose Alvarado.
Alvarado is a New Yorker, more so than anybody on the U.S. squad.
The 26-year-old was born in Brooklyn and went to Christ the King in Queens, where his jersey was retired last year.
But his Olympics are over.
The Americans move on with the top spot in the quarters.