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Klay Thompson led Team USA with 20 points to beat Slovenia and advance to the semifinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona on Tuesday.

James Harden and Stephen Curry was 0-for-12 in the first half but USA still came out on top 49-42.

"I think we didn't make many shots in the first half but our defense was pretty solid and if we kept the pressure on them, things would open up," Curry said.

Team USA broke loose in the second half, connecting 70 points compared to the 34 of Slovenia that ended into a 119-76 rout.

Kenneth Faried and James Harden added 14 points apiece while Anthony Davis contributed with 11 rebounds for the Americans while Goran Dragic scored 13 points for Slovenia.

"I thought we played really hard the whole game and we just couldn't finish in the first half some of those plays," USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "and then they stayed with it and then the floodgates opened in the second half."

Slovenia coach Zdovic Jure said that they prepared for their matchup against the Americans but it was easier done on paper rather than actually playing the more aggressive USA squad.

"We try hard but around 23 minutes it was like, close, the game," Jure said. "But the power that they have, you know, it was too much for us."

Derrick Rose finished with 12 points in the ball game but contributed a team-high of five assists. He said that he got comfortable in the game once Krzyzewski gave him the okay signal to play his type of game.

"Coach K gave me the green light to be aggressive and play my type of game," Rose said.

Team USA will face Lithuania in the semi-finals who had a close encounter with Turkey 73-61 in the other quarter-finals match scheduled on Thursday.

TagsKlay Thompson, James Harden, Stephen Curry, derrick rose, Mike Krzyzewski, Anthony Davis