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 Australia and Lithuania also booked their knockout-stage berths
on a frantic penultimate day of the preliminary group stage, with
holders United States and hosts Spain enjoying comfortable wins
after sealing their passage earlier.
Winners in 1959 and 1963, Brazil stayed on course for a first podium
finish since 1978 with a rollercoaster 81-73 win over Serbia, having
trailed in the second half after squandering a 16-point halftime
lead.
Argentina, the 2002 tournament runners-up and the 2004 Olympic
champions, romped to an 81-46 mauling of surprise package Senegal on
the back of 22 points and 14 rebounds from Indiana Pacers forward
Luis Scola.
A strong third quarter helped Australia to a 70-62 win over Mexico
while an unlikely source carried Lithuania to a 79-49 rout of South
Korea.
Playing in his first major tournament at senior level, guard Adas
Juskevicius came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points for
the Lithuanians after netting a modest total of 17 in the opening
three games.
The 25-year old playmaker nailed six three-pointers from seven
attempts to keep the Baltic nation in contention for top spot in
their pool, which would likely ensure they avoid the U.S. before the
semi-finals.
The Americans improved their record to 4-0 with a 106-71 defeat of
the Dominican Republic in Bilbao after Denver Nuggets forward
Kenneth Faried capped another impressive performance with 16 points
and six rebounds.
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Spain, who are packed with NBA talent and the tournament’s joint favorites
along with the U.S., brushed aside European champions France 88-64 in
Granada.
Missing their four-time NBA champion Tony Parker of the San Antonio
Spurs, the French were undone by Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol and his
brother Marc, who toyed with their rivals at both ends of the court.
The final 12 games of the preliminary group stage will be played on
Thursday. The knockout stages start on Saturday when the fiercely
competitive tournament moves to Madrid and Barcelona.
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; editing by Toby Davis)
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