U.S. co-captains LeBron James (L) and Carmelo Anthony watch their first round game against Senegal at the world basketball championships in Sapporo August 24, 2006. [Reuters]

The US National Basketball Association stars had already clinched the Group D crown and a berth in the knockout rounds at Saitama, where they will first face the Boomers and could meet Germany or Nigeria after that.

Toronto forward Chris Bosh scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Cleveland Cavaliers playmaker LeBron James added 17 points and Denver forward Carmelo Anthony contributed 12.

"We've really come together in the past month as far as getting our roles together," Bosh said.

Dwyane Wade, who helped the Miami Heat win the NBA title in June, sat out part of the game following a pair of tough falls to the court.

"I'll be all right," Wade said. "I'm used to it. Everybody took a beating."

An 18-3 run over the last five minutes of the first quarter was the launching pad for the US blowout.

"It was a great game," US swingman Joe Johnson said. "We ended up picking up our intensity a lot. We made easy plays resulting in easy baskets."

Maleye N'Doye, who led Senegal with 25 points, admitted that the Africans spent much of the early going in admiration of their rivals.

"The game was decided in the first half," N'Doye said. "The first quarter you have to pinch yourself and stop thinking about 'I'm playing against LeBron James and all the other guys.'

"All our dreams are to be where they are."

Senegal coach Moustapha Gaye congratulated US counterpart Mike Krzyzewski, whose Duke University program is a US college legend.

"They really are a superior team. We're all big fans of Coach K and what he has done for his team and for basketball," Gaye said.

N'Doye echoed the feelings.

"We grew up watching his players. I can tell Coach K more about his history than he knows," he said.

Senegal finished 0-5, a fate that also befell Qatar and Panama among the 24 teams in round-robin play.

"It's easier to play when you're not supposed to win," N'Doye said. "In the future I think we're going to be more competitive."