Shooting guard Yusuke Okada scored 30 points and Tomoo Amino had 25 to lead Japan to a 148-45 win over Sri Lanka in a Group A preliminary game in the FIBA Asia Basketball Championship on Saturday in Tianjin, China. After back-to-back defeats to South Korea and the Philippines to open the tournament, Japan improved to 1-2 by putting on an offensive clinic against Sri Lanka, with eight players scoring in double figures. Okada shot 10-for-17 from 3-point range.
Kosuke Takeuchi added a double-double (21 points, 12 boards), and Amino also pulled down 12 rebounds.
Japan had 35 assists and five turnovers, while Sri Lanka had five assists and 26 turnovers.
Japan led 36-11 after one quarter and 72-21 at the break.
Sunday is a rest day in the tournament. Japan moves on to Group E to face South Korea, the Philippines, Iran, Taiwan and Kuwait in second-round competition.
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