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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Diana Taurasi and the U.S. womens basketball team brushed aside yet another opponent at the Rio Games after being challenged for the first time in the Olympics, albeit for just one half.While Japan played the Americans tough in the first half, the end result was another blowout victory for the U.S., although the 110-64 dismantling of the Japanese team may have come at a cost.Point guard Sue Bird didnt play the second half after injuring her right knee in the second quarter. She told The Associated Press after the game that she felt a pop.Nothing really happened, Bird said of the play. I just felt the pop and anytime you feel that, its a little alarming. So going just to have to get it evaluated afterwards and see whats up. Truth I really have nothing to tell you. It happened so fast like. Is it possible I stepped on her shoe or she stepped on mine? I dont really remember but yeah it felt funny.U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said that they would evaluate the injury.I really dont know. I said well know on Wednesday, Auriemma said. Theres no way of knowing anything right now. Im sure Sues bummed out about it as you can imagine. Lets just wait and see.Coming into the quarterfinals, every U.S. game was virtually over at the half. Not this one.Japan, sticking to its up-tempo style of basketball, shooting 3-pointers and pushing the pace, trailed just 56-46 at halftime. But the Americans, who won their five group games by an average of 40.8 points, had just too much offensive firepower and eclipsed the 100-point mark for the fifth time in six games, outscoring Japan 54-18 in the second half.That is a really good team, they make you work, Taurasi said. They have a system of playing that Im really familiar with. ... We knew it would be a tough game. They put a lot of pressure on you and we felt it in the first half.The Americans, who will play France in the semifinals Thursday, have played nearly flawless basketball in Rio and their performances apparently have made an impression on Japan.The Japanese players posed for a team picture with the U.S. after the blowout -- the second straight opponent to get a postgame memento with the Americans. China took a photo after their game against the Americans in pool play. Its reminiscent of how opponents reacted to the Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Games.I dont even know. Its the second time now in a row, said Bird. Yeah I dont know what happened.In the first 20 minutes against Japan, the Americans were challenged as the Asian nation wasnt afraid to try and run with them. The Japanese quickly got the ball up and down the court and hit open jumpers, taking it right at the No. 1 ranked team in the world.Just as the Americans seemed to be pulling away in the second quarter, opening up a double-digit lead, Japan responded with a 10-2 run.And they looked impressive doing it.Ramu Tokashiki -- who plays for the WNBAs Seattle Storm -- shook free from her defender for an easy backdoor layup that got Japan within 48-46 and capped the burst. It brought a loud contingent of Japanese fans to their feet.Thats as close as they would get. The U.S. (6-0) scored the final eight points of the half with the last four coming from Seimone Augustus, which brought cheers from?Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony?and several other members of the U.S. mens basketball team in attendance.Japan scored the first four points of the third quarter, but then Moore started a 10-0 run with five straight points. Brittney Griners layup capped the spurt and the U.S. never looked back.The Americans continued their torrid scoring pace and are still above the 102.4 mark set by the 1996 team that started the run of five gold medals and 47 consecutive Olympic wins.Tokashiki scored 14 points to lead Japan (3-3), which was playing its first Olympics since 2004. The three victories equaled the most ever for the team in the Games, which it will host in 2020.While this game provided the first real test for the Americans, their road to a sixth consecutive gold medal got a little bit easier when Australia lost to Serbia 73-71 early Tuesday. The Aussies had been the only team to hold a halftime lead over the U.S. at the Olympics in the past 16 years when they led by four in the semifinal game in the 2012 London Games. The U.S. won that game by 13. Serbia plays Spain in Thursdays other semifinal. 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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- In the long run, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson are going to be the most important players on the Detroit roster.Tuesday, though, they were spectators.Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy went with his bench in the fourth quarter against the Bulls, and they outscored Chicago 31-19 to pull out a 102-91 victory.Its tough for guys like Andre and Reggie to have to watch a close game down the stretch, because they want to be out there, Van Gundy said. Marcus (Morris), too, but the bench guys were doing such a good job that I couldnt take them off the floor.Tobias Harris, who led Detroit with 22 points, was the only Pistons starter to get his usual playing time in the final 12 minutes. He was joined by Ish Smith, Darrun Hilliard, Aron Baynes and Jon Leuer.Tobias was scoring and Ish got us 10 assists, but it was mostly great defense, Van Gundy said. That group took the game away from the Bulls.Drummond added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who won for the fourth time in five games.Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and Dwyane Wade added 19 points and seven assists for Chicago, which lost its third straight. The Bulls were playing their fourth game in five nights and struggled in the fourth quarter.We battled back from a 17-point deficit and took the lead into the fourth, Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. That just takes so much energy out of you. We have to stop digging holes for ourselves.Drummond dominated early, scoring 10 points on three dunks and two tips. Even when he went to the bench with foul trouble, the Pistons put together an 11-0 run to lead 36-21 early in the second quarter.Rajon Rondo had 10 points in his return to the Chicago lineup.Detroit maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second period, but Chicaago rallied after Jackson picked up his third foul.dddddddddddd The Pistons were ahead 51-44 at the half, thanks to a 16-6 edge on points off turnovers. Drummond had 14 in the half, while Butler had 16 for the Bulls.Chicago was within 51-50 in the first two minutes of the third, and took a 72-71 lead into the fourth. Butler and Taj Gibson both had eight points in the period, while Drummond didnt score for Detroit.Hillards 3-pointer capped Detroits 12-3 run to start the fourth, giving the Pistons an 83-75 lead with 7:28 to play.We had things rolling and Coach let us keep going, Leuer said. You appreciate that as a player, if you get it going and you are allowed to ride it out.The Pistons pulled away down the stretch against the weary Bulls.Weve just got to win a couple games, Butler said. When we do that, everything will be fine and dandy again.TIP-INSBulls: Rondo missed Mondays loss to Portland due to a team suspension.Pistons: Due to his foul problems, Jackson only played 10 minutes in the first half. Hes still on limited minutes after missing the seasons first 21 games with knee tendinitis, and played eight minutes in the second half. Ish Smith played the entire fourth quarter.ROTATION PROBLEMSLeuer, normally Detroits sixth man, only played seven minutes in the first half, and Van Gundy blamed himself. I was trying to keep Tobias away from Jimmy Butler and screwed up my rotation. As it turned out, it didnt matter who guarded Jimmy, but we should never have a half where Jon only plays seven minutes.UP NEXTBulls: Visit the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.Pistons: Host the San Antonio Spurs and Pau Gasol on Thursday. ' ' '