Sports

Defending champion Spain advanced to the round of 16 at the basketball world championship on Wednesday and so, more surprisingly, did Angola.

Angola made the last 16 four years ago, but it began this year''s tournament with a 50-point loss to Serbia. It kept improving, however, and rallied from a 10-point deficit late in the game to stun Germany 92-88 in overtime Wednesday.

Spain came into the tournament as the reigning world and European champion and Olympic silver medalist. It lost two of its first three games and only made sure of advancing by defeating Lebanon 91-57. Marc Gasol led Spain with 25 points and Fran Vasquez added 15.

Because winners of each of the six-team groups have an easier draw in the single-elimination round in Istanbul, at least on paper, it means Spain could run into the United States in the quarterfinals.

The United States beat Spain for the Olympic gold medal in Beijing two years ago, but no players from that American team have returned to play at the worlds.

Still, the Americans made sure of winning Pool B by cruising past Iran 88-51.

The United States and Iran may have tense political relations, but there was no tension on the court in Istanbul. There was no suspense, either, as the Americans quickly established control.

Kevin Love scored 13 points and Kevin Durant 12 for the undefeated Americans, who will meet the fourth-place team from Group A in the round of 16.

In that group in Kayseri, top-ranked Argentina will play Serbia for first place on Thursday. Joining Angola in the second round was Australia, despite losing 94-79 to Serbia on Wednesday. Argentina later won its fourth straight by defeating winless Jordan 88-79.

Croatia beat Tunisia 84-64 and Slovenia edged Brazil 80-77 as the winners and Brazil joined the United States in the last 16.

Lithuania beat France 69-55 to win Group D and New Zealand, a 71-61 winner over Canada, joins Spain in the next round, with France also advancing.

In Group C in Ankara, host Turkey stayed perfect after four games, but only just, edging Puerto Rico 79-77 after trailing for three quarters.

Greece booked a place in the Round of 16 by cruising past Ivory Coast 97-60, while Russia beat Canada 89-80 to do the same. Puerto Rico needs to beat Ivory Coast to advance over China, which plays Turkey on Thursday.

Angola had never beaten Germany before and it looked like history would repeat itself when Germany held a 10-point margin with less than four minutes remaining.

But Joaquim Gomes sank a 3-pointer to put Angola within six, Felizardo Ambrosio stole the ball for a dunk and after both teams wasted their next two possessions, Ambrosio made another 3 to make it a one-point game. Heiko Schaffartzik made one free throw but Olimpio Cipriano sank both to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Schaffartzik''s 3-pointer got Germany within three with six seconds remaining, but Ambrosio then made both free throws to secure the win. Ambrosio finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Olimpio Cipriano scored 30 points for Angola and Gomes added 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Nenad Krstic returned from a three-game suspension for a pre-tournament brawl in Greece and had a double-double in Serbia''s victory over Australia.