After much-needed rest, U.S. is ready for elimination play

Sunday's practice was shorter than the previous day's full-contact session.

ISTANBUL -- It has been a while since the U.S. National Team felt the rush of playing a meaningful game. After escaping with a win over Brazil on Monday, they played two non-competitive contests against Iran and Tunisia, followed by three days off.

The time between pool play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and their round-of-16 matchup with Angola (Monday, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN2) allowed them to get some much-needed time on the practice floor. But now, they're ready to get back to action.

"We're highly anxious to play," Danny Granger said Sunday. "The last two games weren't exactly two really good teams, and we didn't play too particularly well. So we're definitely anxious to get back to meaningful games."

Sunday's practice in Istanbul was shorter than the full-contact session they went through on Saturday, but the team did get some work done. And at this point in the tournament, head coach Mike Krzyzewski says that he doesn't want to make things too complicated.

"We might add a certain set, because we want to go to a certain guy to highlight him," Krzyzewski said. "You don't want to add too much now, like over-coach them. You want to prepare them, but not over-coach them."

But with no margin for error in the single-elimination format of the knockout rounds, it's now time to go full throttle.

"The last two games, especially, you can't blow it all out against those teams," Krzyzewski said. "You've got to pace yourself a little bit. But now, when you're one and done, you don't hold anything back."

So starting with Monday's game against Angola, the U.S. will press more defensively, making quicker substitutions to stay fresh and aggressive.

"We'll kind of show how we're going to play every game the way we play the first one," Krzyzewski said.

Angola has been the best team in Africa for a long time, but they've never had much success at the Olympics or World Championships. Here's a profile of Monday's matchup.

Recent History

2004 Olympics - USA 89, Angola 53
2008 Olympics - USA 97, Angola 76

How Angola got here (4th place, Group A)

• Lost to Serbia, 94-44
• Defeated Jordan, 79-65
• Lost to Argentina, 91-70
• Defeated Germany, 92-88
• Lost to Australia, 76-55

The win over Germany was for fourth place in the group and what got Angola to the knockout rounds. Germany led the game by 10 with less than four minutes to go, but Angola scored 14 points in the final 3:19 of regulation to send it to overtime. They took control early in the extra period and held on for a four-point win.

Angola's offense

92.5 points scored per 100 possessions (21st of 24 teams in pool play)

Offensively, Angola is a contrast to the European offenses that flourish on ball movement. The African champions are very much a one-on-one team. They'll run pick-and-rolls, but mostly to free themselves up for a quick shot or drive to the basket. They recorded assists on just 41 percent of their field goals in pool play, the third lowest ratio of the 24 teams in the tournament.

Krzyzewski: "I think they'll attack on offense. That's their nature. That's what they do. They've been a very good attacking team."

Angola's defense

Angola plays both man and zone, and they will utilize a 2-2-1 press at times.

Krzyzewski: "Their big guys play off big guys to clog the lane. They have done zone, but their man-to-man, if they clog up, is like a zone. So I would expect more of a sloughing defense, whether it be in man or zone. We have to come down and not overpenetrate against that, but rather make passes and get movement."

Numbers of note

From a statistical point of view, Angola was the worst team to qualify for the elimination rounds. They were outscored by 19.1 points per 100 possessions in pool play.

The U.S. should attack the glass. Angola was the second worst defensive rebounding team in pool play, securing just 62 percent of available defensive boards.

Angola was above average in two key statistics defensively. They ranked sixth by forcing 20.8 turnovers per 100 possessions. And they ranked seventh by allowing their opponents to attempt just 24.5 free throws per 100 possessions.

Key players

Olimpio Cipriano -- The wing was Angola's leading scorer in pool play, averaging 14.8 points in four games. He dropped 30, hitting four of his six attempts from 3-point range, in the big win over Germany. Andre Iguodala will likely get the assignment of containing him.

Joaquim Gomes -- The big man averaged 11.6 points in pool play and had a double-double against Germany. He's a center who can step out and shoot from the perimeter, a contrast from most big men in this tournament who like to roll to the basket.

Carlos Morais -- The combo guard doesn't shoot particularly well, but he can get to the rim.

Loyalty wins out as Thomas returns to the Big D

Tim Thomas missed most of last season, his first with Dallas, to care for his wife Tricia.

If there ever was a summer to be a free agent, this was it. There were plenty of jobs to go around and teams looking to spend.

Tim Thomas didn't want any part of the craziness. A few informal discussions took place here and there, but Thomas knew what he wanted.

The Mavericks felt the same.

"Loyalty is definitely the best word for it," Thomas told NBA.com in his first extensive interview since re-signing with Dallas on Aug. 18.

Thomas missed most of last season, his first with Dallas. Knee surgery sidelined him initially before leaving the team in late January to deal with something much more serious. Thomas' wife, Tricia, had become ill and Tim requested a leave of absence to care for her and their family.

He never returned. He also wasn't forgotten. Thomas said every one of his Dallas teammates reached out during the trying times, as did players from around the league. Even though he had only been with the Mavericks a few months and played just 18 games, the outpouring of support from all corners of the organization touched him deeply.

"That was all I could ask for," said Thomas, who decided along with Tricia to keep the nature of her illness private.

Thomas kept tabs on the Mavericks from their home in Los Angeles. Watching the first-round exit to San Antonio was especially hard.

"It was about taking care of my wife, but I watched basketball as much as I could and I always kept up with what Dallas was doing," he said. "I reached out to everybody right before the playoffs and wished everybody well.

"Of course I watched the playoff games and thought about situations where I could have helped. It was tough to know that the guys were going to war and I wasn't there to help, but at the same time everybody was reaching out with their prayers for my wife."

When the offseason rolled around, Thomas' competitive juices were flowing again. Tricia had improved to the point where she could care for their two daughters and run the household again. Thomas was ready to give it another go.

"I wanted to come back and help my team, but things happened in the household," he said. "The team allowed me to go and to try to work things out. When things started going downhill, they allowed me to stay home and take care of what's most important -- your family. I really appreciate that from them. I'm happy that everything worked out as far as my wife's health."

Thomas began to work out and talked to his agent, Bob Myers, about his options. Most teams were hesitant to look into the 14-year veteran with seven teams on his résumé, though some were interested given Thomas' track record. The Mavericks were one of those interested teams.

"There were a lot of talks, but nothing got as far as an actual contract," Thomas said. "When my agent talked to Dallas and Dallas said they would love to have me back, it was a no-brainer. I definitely wanted to put myself in a situation where you have a chance to win an NBA championship."

The two sides agreed on the same contract Thomas signed last summer -- a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum ($1.35 million). Whether more money was out there, Thomas wasn't about to chase it. There was unfinished business and the chance to repay a debt in Dallas.

Loyalty won out.

"That's the right word -- loyalty," he said. "Everything I went through, the organization was just great. From being hurt and having surgery to my wife's health, they were just great. From the basketball side of it, they know what I'm capable of doing if I'm healthy and they know also I just want to sacrifice for the team. I just want to win. That's the bottom line."

The Mavericks are just glad to get Thomas back.

"We knew it was tough on Tim and his family last year," owner Mark Cuban said. "Our policy is that family always comes first. So we certainly were trying to offer any help we could and to stay on top of the situation. With the new season getting ready to get started, we are excited to have Tim back. His size and ability to stretch the court will be a big help to us."

Thomas isn't a difference-maker, but the Mavericks are counting on the 6-foot-10 forward to shore up some shortcomings that arose last season. He brings much-needed depth behind Dirk Nowitzki, giving Dallas length and the ability to space the floor with his 3-point range.

And while the absence was unintended, it did his body some good. Thomas, 33, has only played close to a full season once in the last five years.

"I've had a long time off, so I have fresh legs, but then again it's been 14 years, so time will tell," he said. "I feel great right now. I'm ready to go and I want to get back into the whole flow of practicing and playing and being able to compete. I want to be around the guys and enjoy the game."

When it came down to deciding where, Thomas couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

"I just felt loyal to Dallas for what they did last year letting me take care of my family," he said. "I just want to give it another shot. I feel I can help. I keep going back to that word -- loyalty."

Forward-thinking Collins already dreaming big in Philly

Doug Collins says he's got the plan to re-ignite the spark between Philadelphia and the 76ers.

If he had been one of the Wright brothers, he'd have invented the jet engine before the propeller plane. If he were a caveman, he would have thought of the radial tire before the wheel.

Thus, it should surprise no one that Doug Collins is a few steps ahead of the pack in his return to Philadelphia as coach of the Sixers.

"It will feel great to have old excitement and electricity back in the city and back in the building," he said. "We're gonna have a team that the people will respond to. We're gonna have meaningful games late in the season. We're gonna have a playoff atmosphere and all that brings."

Never mind learning to crawl when you can simply stand up and break into an all-out sprint. That has always been the Collins way from the time he was an All-American at Illinois State, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 Draft and a brilliant but star-crossed guard for the Sixers to all of his three previous three NBA coaching stops.

On the court and off it, he's always been an exposed nerve end, someone who practically hums like a tuning fork when you stand next to him, the equivalent of a fireworks display that lights up the sky and then quickly dissolves into the night.

"I think at 35 years old, you could say that, maybe at 45," Collins said, nodding his head. "I don't think that's the case at 59. I'm a grandpa now with four grandkids and I think you see things differently. I think you get older with vision and a perspective that changes.

"When you're younger you just roll up your sleeves and you're gonna fight the world and make it all right and stuff. Then, in the words of the late Chuck Daly, you learn to pick and choose your battles."

Daly, the Hall of Famer who guided the Pistons to back-to-back NBA championships and the Dream Team to Olympic gold in 1992, used to call it "selective hearing."

Collins calls it just one of the things he's gleaned from all of the other coaches he came in contact with during his past seven years as a TNT analyst after being fired by the Wizards following a two-year stint during Michael Jordan's comeback in 2003.

"I always knew I was gonna do it again," he said. "I always knew I was gonna coach again. I was not gonna rush back into it. It was gonna pick a situation that I thought fit who I am and what I do as a coach. I've always gone to teams that have been down and have some talent. I feel like I'm a teacher. I feel that I create an environment where guys get better.

"The one thing I've felt is that wherever I've gone, the teams have gotten better. We won more games. I've always felt that wherever I've left has been better for me being there and I don't mean to say that in an arrogant way."

Collins took over a Chicago team with Jordan and Scottie Pippen that finished 30-52 in 1986 and had them at 47-35 and in the Eastern Conference finals when he was let go in 1989. Detroit was 28-54 the season when he arrived in 1995 and he had them at 54-28 two years later. In Washington, during Jordan's comeback, the Wizards had consecutive 37-45 seasons under Collins, but that was up substantially from the 19-63 team he inherited.

Now the Sixers, after consecutive playoff first-round losses in 2008 and 2009 that many believed was underachieving, are coming off a loud 27-55 belly flop of a season that got coach Eddie Jordan fired after less than one year on the job.

The right opportunity came along just when Collins was ready to scratch that itch again.

"I wasn't going just anyplace," he said. "I'd had five or six other opportunities in recent years and just said no. There are only two cities -- Philadelphia or Chicago -- that I said I would go to. I almost went to Chicago two years ago. Then [Bulls owner] Jerry Reinsdorf and I talked and he said, 'I don't want to turn our personal relationship into a business' and I understood.

"That left Philly. I waited and this came out. It was right because of my wife and my family. My wife and I had lived there before and were comfortable. My daughter lives just outside the city. The grandkids are there. I have friends in Philly."

Not to mention memories having helped pick the Sixers up off the floor once before. As a rookie, Collins joined a team that had set the NBA's worst ever record of 9-73 the year before. He soon became a vastly underrated four-time All-Star on a star-spangled lineup that included Julius Erving, George McGinnis and Darryl Dawkins that won all the headlines but no championships.

He looks now at a roster that features talented young pieces in Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday and No. 2 draft pick Evan Turner. He sees a Boston team that is still the class of the Atlantic Division, but getting older, along with New York, New Jersey and Toronto that are either in transition or in trouble.

He was a fiery bundle of optimism walking into each of those previous jobs, but left burned and wilted like a used candle. So at a time when Steve Kerr was quick to jump from the hot seat of being the general manager in Phoenix to taking over Collins' job behind the TNT microphone, the question is why would he want to put himself through it again?

"I just feel like I'm in the best spot I've ever been as a coach," Collins said. "I'm driven. But so are Phil Jackson, Larry Brown, Gregg Popovich and Jerry Sloan."

The head bobs, the eyes dance and that high-pitched voice can still go up another octave when he's running down the young roster and over all of the plans he has for his old/new town this season.

"It's ready, the city is so ready," he said. "I do know and understand the emotion and excitement when things are right. I've been in this situation before. I know what it feels like in Philadelphia to get it going again."

Doug Collins, ahead of the pack as usual, is already there again.

These players could be looking at big decline this season

For differing reasons, Lamar Odom (left) and Kevin Garnett could be staring down a tough 2010-11 season.

One year, a player seems on top of the basketball world, enjoying the high as well as the view below. The next year, he's falling without a parachute, wondering when he'll finally land, and how hard.

This happens. This is sports. Everyone declines, even the greats, unless they leave before their feet touches the ground. Just like taxes and a Mark Cuban rant toward a referee, it's inevitable. And it usually doesn't happen suddenly; most of us can see it coming, for a variety of reasons: age, competition or a change in team dynamics.

That said, here are 10 players who appear most vulnerable to a slide in 2010-11, and why:

Amar'e Stoudemire (Knicks): He lost Steve Nash and he gained a potentially hostile crowd. Those are the hazards facing Stoudemire in his new digs. The Nash factor is very real; Stoudemire owes a bunch of his highlights to a point guard who excelled in the pick-and-roll and knew how to deliver the ball. As for the New York atmosphere, it might get gruesome should the Knicks falter and/or their new big man fail to meet the steep expectations. If you recall, Stoudemire was a bit touchy last spring when he was called out in the postseason. Therefore, is he too sensitive to deal with media that's triple the size of what he saw in Phoenix, and twice as skeptical?

Vince Carter (Magic): This may be a contract year for Carter, and if that doesn't motivate him, nothing will. The scenario in Orlando doesn't favor his odds of getting an extension. He shot 43 percent during the season and 40 in a poor postseason. Plus, J.J. Redick is poised to make a push for the starting job. Clearly, the Magic are ready to move on, if Redick does cut significantly into Carter's minutes. Anyway, Carter's best years were in Toronto and New Jersey. His stop in Orlando mirrors many others who migrate to Florida. They come to slow down and eventually retire.

Yao Ming (Rockets): After missing all last season and limping through stretches of recent seasons, can he ever be a 20 and 10 guy again? It is possible Yao can shake off the rust and be an All-Star. Or, his best years are well behind him. Nothing is certain for a player who could have revolutionized the center position had he stayed healthy from foot and knee issues. Instead, his health will remain a question until his body demonstrates otherwise. Also, his surroundings are a bit different than the years spent with Tracy McGrady, a tandem wrecked by injuries to both players.

Tony Parker (Spurs): It's a contract year for Parker, and therefore, risky to say he's headed for a spill. But it's also undeniable that his numbers fell across the board last season. And would you say, without hesitation, that this is the same Parker of two seasons ago, when he posted career highs of 22.0 points and 6.9 assists a game? If Parker were still on top of his game, would the Spurs think about listening to offers for him (as they supposedly did this summer)? Or wait before giving him an extension? Parker is certainly not old (only 28) or in his twilight (he's one of the top five or six point guards), but perhaps not as dangerous as before. With George Hill hungry for playing time (and eventually, money), Parker has every reason to turn back the clock.

Baron Davis (Clippers): In two seasons with the Clippers, Davis has shot 39 percent and averaged 15 points a game. That's not the kind of production the Clippers thought they'd get after handing him the big bucks. Just the same, Davis thought he'd be playing with Elton Brand. Regardless, something's seems amiss in this marriage, at least so far. The Clippers can only hope Davis is motivated by a lineup that welcomes Blake Griffin.

J.R. Smith (Nuggets): Great skills, fragile maturity. Those warring factions have kept Smith from his true potential. One episode is usually followed by another with Smith, who can't seem to shake drama. He averaged 15.4 points a game last season, the highest of his career, and was a legit sixth-man candidate. Then he followed it up with a scuffle this summer. He's in a contract year, but can money set him straight?

Kevin Garnett (Celtics): KG managed to ignore body aches and the persistent pull of gravity to come up big in spurts during the playoffs and The Finals. But anyone can plainly see KG is slowly regressing from All-Star level. He still has the will and the smarts to outplay most big men, but is exposed over the season and playoffs. At this point, the days of KG getting 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks a night are likely gone.

Lamar Odom (Lakers): His shooting percentage and scoring average has dipped the last three years, and he seemed noticeably average during the championship run. Odom still has value to the Lakers as a rebounder, but the rest of his game has faltered. Once the Lakers cease winning championships, his weaknesses will become magnified. And that could happen this season.

Mo Williams (Cavaliers): Does he take on added importance and responsibility with LeBon James gone? Or does the absence of LeBron, who opened lanes and gave teammates open looks, mean fewer easy baskets for Mo? Suspect the latter. Williams must create his own chances now, and also feed Anderson Varejao and Antawn Jamison because, for the most part, LeBron was Cleveland's point guard. Now, it's Mo's "team," so to speak.

Elton Brand (Sixers): For the fourth straight year, Brand's scoring average dropped (from 24.7 in 2005-06 to 13.1 last season) along with his rebounding (once double-figures, then 6.1 rebounds a game last season). He blamed the system, which will be changed by new coach Doug Collins, whose priority is making Brand a top-10 power forward again. Maybe Brand was a victim of bad coaching the last few years. Or perhaps Brand, who'll turn 32 this season, is past his prime. With three years left on a roughly $16 million-a-season contract, Brand carries a hefty price as a second or third option.

Riley keeps plugging along as Warriors iron out their future

Larry Riley is interested in staying put as the Warriors' GM ... if that's what the new management wants.

Larry Riley isn't interested in a conversation about his job status. Sure, Riley wants to stay on as Warriors general manager through the upcoming ownership swap, but campaigning or justifying his work isn't his style. A humble and straight shooter, Riley prefers to do his job. Not talk about it.

"I'm just going to do my job until it's over," he told NBA.com this week.

That's fine. Others are doing the talking for him.

A number of columns in the Bay Area this summer have praised the job done by Riley to reposition Golden State for this season and in those to come. The Warriors have undergone a personality shift by beefing up the roster, while adding financial flexibility.

They've done so in a climate of uncertainty, as the franchise waits for its new owners to assume control. A group led by Celtics minority owner Joe Lacob and Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber reached an agreement to buy the Warriors on July 15. League approval is expected to take 60-90 days, meaning it could be mid-October before the issue is resolved.

That's two weeks before the start of the regular season. Not exactly the optimum time to make wholesale changes like firing your GM and coach. That would appear to bode well for both Riley and coach Don Nelson.

Riley, especially. As Nellie hangs in an odd limbo as the league's all-time wins leader, Riley continues to win support. Riley freely admits all that Nellie has done for him through the years, including bringing him to Golden State as an assistant coach four years ago.

The Don hated losing Riles to the front office as assistant GM in 2008. Many close observers speculated that Nellie would lose the stomach for coaching -- again -- without his trusted confidante on the road. The Warriors were losing. Nellie's misery needs company, Bud Light and cigars. Riley shared in all three.

Riley's worth to the bench is one thing. His value since moving upstairs should mean a gig through the Warriors' next coaching change, whenever that may happen. The Warriors haven't enjoyed an offseason of Miami proportions, but it's energized the fan base and started to balance the roster.

David Lee is on board, giving the Warriors a legit power forward who averaged about 20 points and 12 rebounds last season. Lee, 27, was acquired in a sign-and-trade that cost Golden State former lottery pick Anthony Randolph.

Riley understood the risk in giving up on Randolph, a 6-foot-11 jumping jack who's only 21. He stands by the decision, which was his.

"I made the evaluation and decided that's the way I wanted to go," he said.

Riley made the deal, which included signing Lee to an $80 million contract, with the full blessing of current owner Chris Cohen. Riley hasn't been handcuffed by Cohen or hesitant to pull off a deal that the new owners might second guess.

Riley is doing his job until someone tells him not to. Until that day comes, he's looking for ways to improve. Twice this summer he sent assistant Stephen Silas to work with Monta Ellis in Jackson, Miss. Assistant Keith Smart was dispatched to Latvia to tutor Andris Biedrins.

"I don't know how far we can go, but I know we're going to be better," Riley said.

Lee's addition gives Golden State potentially three frontline players along with Stephen Curry and Ellis. The Warriors also signed Dorell Wright to shore up the small forward position and traded for guard Charlie Bell.

"I like the way our locker room looks right now," Riley said. "I feel like we've changed the team and we've added some dimensions we didn't have previously."

That chiefly being rebounding and toughness. There were losses this summer, mainly Anthony Morrow and C.J. Watson. But Riley isn't done dealing. Another veteran presence to the bench is a priority, with free agent Louis Amundson being a top target.

There's also $14 million in expiring contracts -- a sizable asset come February. And then there's Carmelo Anthony. Reports last week that listed Golden State as a possible destination Melo. If the Nuggets do decide to field offers for Anthony, expect the Warriors to be aggressive.

"We are going to look for ways to improve our team," Riley said.

As for Nellie, he wants to finish out his Golden State contract. He's got a year left and has remained engaged -- to the point Nellie remains engaged -- in the team's offseason activities. Nelson wasn't part of the Draft, by design, but did attend Summer League team in Las Vegas to evaluate the team's prospects.

Nellie repeatedly says he "knows nothing" when it comes to his future with Golden State's new owners. It's probably best to keep it that way. Riley is Nellie's best ally if a case is made for a less complicated coaching transition to take place after the season.

Riley's voice has been heard for a while now. No reason that shouldn't continue.

Turkoglu helps Turkey rally past France

ISTANBUL (AP) -- Turkey used a 21-4 run spanning the second and third quarters on Sunday to eliminate France from the basketball world championship with a 95-77 win.

Phoenix Suns forward Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points and Sinan Guler added 17 for Turkey, which played its first tournament game in the new Sinan Erdem Dome. A nearly capacity crowd of 15,000 -- including 22 members of Turkey's national football squad sitting courtside -- watched the home team make shoot 35 of 55 from the field in the round of 16 game.

Turkey's reward is to play Slovenia on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

"Everybody knows the fans in Turkey are loud," France's Boris Diaw said. The red-clad masses didn't disappoint in this one, constantly cheering their team from before the tipoff through Guler's layup at about three minutes left in the first half to put Turkey up 32-24.

Turkoglu, who more than doubled his points-per-game average from Turkey's five preliminary round wins, then sparked the decisive run as he flashed the same point forward skills that helped propel his former NBA team, the Orlando Magic, into the 2009 NBA Finals.

He drove past Diaw and whipped a pass over Ali Traore to a diving Oguz Savas for a layup. Savas was fouled on the shot and made the free throw. On Turkey's next possession, Turkoglu drove around France's defense again, this time for a layup of his own.

"We did make mistakes, especially on defense. We missed our defensive rotations two or three times and gave them easy layups," French coach Vincent Collet said.

The Turks took a 43-28 into halftime, then scored ten straight points - including back-to-back Turkoglu threes - to open up the second half.

"At this time it was almost over," Collet said.

About the only bad news for the Turks came with 5:13 left in the third, when guard Kerem Tunceri apparently hurt his right foot in a collsion with Nando de Colo and limped off the court with help from teammates.

By the end of the third quarter, the game had taken on more the feeling of a fiesta than competition. The Turkish players slapped hands, chest bumped and smiled as they went to the bench for the break, and the crowd chanted and did the wave. Not even two consecutive Batum dunks to close the gap to 71-49 early in the fourth quarter stopped their singing.

Turkey made nine of 19 three-pointers, while France made 12 of 24, but scored ten fewer field goals.

Diaw, who plays for the Charlotte Bobcats, scored 21 points. De Colo added 15 for France, which had started strong in the preliminary round with three straight wins but fell to its group's fourth-seeded spot after losing its last two games. Collett said he wished France could have played other teams from Turkey's preliminary round group.

"It would have been better to play Russia or Greece, but not Turkey this year. Not this Turkey especially," Collett said.

Slovenia trounces Australia 87-58 at Worlds

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- Jaka Lokovic scored 19 points and Slovenia hit 16 of 33 3-pointers to eliminate Australia 87-58 Sunday in the round of 16 at the World Championship.

Lokovic's corner 3-pointer in the game's opening seconds sparked a 12-0 run and Slovenia never looked back. Primoz Brezec of the Milwaukee Bucks had 12 points and Goran Dragic added 10 points and eight assists for Slovenia.

Slovenia's guards cut into Australia's interior defense all game for easy looks or passes to wide-open perimeter shooters.

``We did a poor job of getting to their 3-point shooters,'' Australian coach Brett Brown said. ``We pride ourselves for playing hard, tough defense. We don't have great athletes, we aren't very quick.''

Australia didn't score until Joseph Ingles' layup 4 1/2 minutes into the game. Australia's 6-foot-6 Brad Newley blocked 6-10 center Gaspar Vidmar's two-handed dunk from behind as time ran out in the first quarter with Slovenia leading 16-8.

``We chased the whole game, defensively, offensively from start to finish,'' Brown said.

Lakovic led Slovenia with 11 points in the first half as Slovenia hit 8 of 17 3s.

``Our tactic was to shoot a lot from 3-point because the Australia defense was playing very tight'' inside, Slovenian coach Mehmed Becirovic said.

The Australians, meanwhile, couldn't get on track. When Patrick Mills of the Portland Trail Blazers threw up an airball with seconds left in the half it was the seventh miss of seven 3-point attempts for the Boomers in the half. Australia made only 18 of 58 from the field for the game.

Ingles and Mills had 13 apiece for Australia.

Slovenia made 5 of 8 three-pointers in the third quarter to build a 71-45 lead. Lakovic and guards Sani Becirovic and Dragic continued to carve into the Australia's defense. Slovenia finished with 18 assists to five for Australia.

``There's not much to say when you look at these stat sheets,'' Australia forward Matthew Nielson said.

Navarro scores 22 as Spain eliminates Greece

ISTANBUL (AP) -- Juan Carlos Navarro scored 22 points for Spain in an 80-72 victory that eliminated Greece from the basketball World Championships on Saturday.

The Spaniards made 8 of 18 3-pointers and used a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to push ahead during the game in the round of 16.

Greece closed within 72-68 on Vasileios Spanoulis' layup with 1:01 left in the game, but Ricky Rubio answered with two free throws.

Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trailblazers scored 14 for Spain.

Dimitrios Dimantidis and Nikolaos Zisis each had 16 points for the Greeks, which has lost to Spain seven straight times. Sofoklis Schortsanitis added 13 points.

Game comes down to free throws as Serbia nips Croatia

ISTANBUL (AP) -- Oklahoma City Thunder center Nenad Krstic had 16 points and Aleksander Rasic scored five points in the last 21 seconds to help Serbia edge Croatia 73-72 in the round of 16 at the basketball world championship Saturday.

Croatian guard Marko Popovic made two free throws with 5 seconds left to tie the game at 72, but Rasic was fouled by Davor Kus as he attempted a shot with 1 second left.

Rasic made a free throw and Croatia was eliminated when Popovic's full-court shot fell short as time expired.

"The game was very, very tough this night,'' Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic said. "It was necessary to play 40 minutes just to beat a very good team like Croatia.''

Rasic finished with 15 points for Serbia. Popovic led Croatia with 21 points, and Roko-Leni Ukic and Marko Banic 10 apiece.

"I'm not satisfied that we have made just the round of eight,'' Ivkovic added.

Croatia was 5 of 24 on 3-point attempts, while Serbia hit 5 of 15.

Serbia made eight of its first eleven field goals in the first major international basketball game between the Balkan neighbors who fought a war in the early 1990s. But Croatia outrebounded Serbia 10-2 and took a 27-19 lead going into the second quarter.

Serbia narrowed the gap to 34-36 at halftime, and in the third quarter the teams traded the lead eleven times.

Serbia took a 65-57 advantage with three minutes left in the game, but Popovic had seven points down the stretch to lead Croatia back.

After Popovic missed his last attempt, he slid into the opposing bench, and laid still, face down, as the Serbs celebrated. Serbian coaches helped him stand.

"You can't be happy when you lose like this,'' Croatia coach Josip Vrankovic said. "It's a really hard game, but what can we do?''

Bucks sign second-round draft pick Hobson

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Milwaukee Bucks have signed second-round draft pick Darington Hobson.

The 6-foot-7, 210-pound junior was taken 37th overall out of New Mexico in this year's draft.

Terms were not disclosed when the signing was announced Friday.

Hobson averaged 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists over three college seasons, the first two at Eastern Utah. Last season at New Mexico, Hobson averaged career-highs in rebounds (9.3) and assists (4.6) while scoring 15.9 points and shooting a career-best 36.1 percent from 3-point range (39-108).

Hobson was the Mountain West Conference's Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year. He was also named a Third Team All-American by The Associated Press.

Hawks beef up frontline, add veteran center Thomas

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent center Etan Thomas to add bulk in the frontcourt.

The 6-foot-10 Thomas spent most of his career with the Washington Wizards but finished last season with Oklahoma City. He's averaged 5.8 point and 4.8 rebounds per game over his eight-year career, which includes 74 starts.

Hawks coach Larry Drew says Thomas will add veteran leadership and physical toughness.

Terms of the contract were not released.

Penney scores 25 to guide New Zealand into next round

IZMIR, Turkey (AP) -- Kirk Penney scored 25 points to help New Zealand surge into the knockout round of the basketball world championships with an 82-70 win over France on Thursday.

New Zealand has won three straight games after losing its first two to clinch third place in Group D. They will face Russia on Monday.

Mika Vukona finnished with 15 points for New Zealand, which built a 39-25 halftime lead by hitting 8 of 17 3-point attempts.

Yannick Bokolo had 13 points and Nando de Colo added 10 for France, which finished fourth after losing its last two games and will face Turkey on Sunday.

Germany breezes past Jordan in final FIBA game for both

KAYSERI, Turkey (AP) -- Tibor Pleiss scored 23 points to give Germany a 91-73 win over Jordan on Thursday in a match between two eliminated teams at the basketball world championship.

Lucca Staiger had 16 points and Jan Jagla 14 for Germany (2-3), which finished fifth in Group A.

Osama Daghles had 22 points for Jordan (0-5).

Varejao key as Brazil clinches third place in Group B

ISTANBUL (AP) -- Marcelo Machado scored 18 points, Anderson Varejao grabbed 12 rebounds in his longest stint at the world championship, and Brazil clinched third place in Group B with a 92-74 victory over Croatia on Thursday.

Brazil (3-2) bounced back from a pair of narrow losses to earn a meeting with South American rival Argentina on Tuesday. Brazil coach Ruben Magnano guided the Argentines to the 2004 Olympic gold medal.

Leandro Barbosa added 17 points and Alex Garcia 15 for the Brazilians, who had lost by two the United States and by three to Slovenia in their last two outings. They took control by hitting 7-of-10 shots in the second quarter, ensuring they wouldn't have another one go to the wire.

Varejao, who missed the first three games while recovering from a sprained right ankle, started and played 24 minutes Thursday, providing the usual energy on the backboards that he gives the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Marko Popovic scored 15 points for Croatia (2-3), which will play Group A champion Serbia on Saturday.

Turkey stays undefeated, wallops China by 47 points

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Oguz Savas scored 20 points as Turkey beat China 87-40 on Thursday in its final group game at the world championship.

Turkey, which had already won Group C, had a 20-0 scoring run to lead 39-13 at the break. Omer Asik's slam dunk gave Turkey a 41-point lead in the final seconds of the third quarter. Semih Erden widened the gap to 47 points with 50 seconds to go in the game.

Turkey (5-0) plays fourth-place New Zealand of Group D in the knockout stage in Istanbul.

China (1-4) reached the next round in Istanbul on points differential ahead of Ivory Coast and Puerto Rico. Russia (4-1) finished second and Greece (3-2) third.