World championship hosts Turkey and dark horses Serbia advanced to the semi-finals in contrasting fashion after both teams produced scintillating performances to beat their rivals.
World championship favourites the United States stormed into the quarter-finals on Monday with a 121-66 rout of Angola and were joined by Russia, who were also on song in their 78-56 win over New Zealand.
World championship hosts Turkey and the tournament's crowd pleasers Slovenia set up what should be a fascinating quarter-final after impressive wins over their rivals in the last 16 on Sunday.
Eric Gordon scored 21 points as the United States pulled away from Tunisia after sleepwalking through the first half, winning 92-57 on Thursday in its final game of group play at the world championship.
Charles Abouo scored 19 points to lead Cote d'Ivoire to an 88-79 win over Puerto Rico here on Thursday at the basketball world championship in group C, sending China to the knockout round on a three-team tiebreaker.
World championship favourites the US made it four wins out of four with an 88-51 victory over Iran on Wednesday while Angola booked a place in the last 16 with a stunning 92-88 overtime defeat of Germany.
China's young basketball team failed to bounce back from its loss on Tuesday night to Puerto Rico and is now on the brink of World Championship elimination after falling to Russia, 89-80, on Wednesday.
Holders Spain have no more room for error after suffering their second defeat in three games at the World Championship on Tuesday while hosts Turkey and dark horses France reached the last 16 with two games to spare.
Patty Mills scored 16 points to help Australia cruise past a tired and cold-shooting Germany 78-43 on Monday for its second victory at the FIBA World Championship.
Turkey overwhelmed its traditional rival Greece 76-65 here Tuesday, scoring their third straight win at basketball worlds.
The United States survived its first tough test at the world championships, edging Brazil 70-68 on Monday when Leandro Barbosa's shot rattled out at the buzzer.
A weakened German team, missing their talismanic NBA forward Dirk Nowitzki, produced the shock of the world championship on Sunday with an 82-81 win over Serbia after two overtime periods.