Serbia on the brink

The Serbs held a narrow lead at the half and stretched their advantage to 66-61 entering the final quarter but could not hold off the charging Argentines, who put together an 8-0 run to nose 76-74 ahead late on.

Luis Scola had 22 points and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili chipped in with 13 as Argentina wrapped up Group A play with an unblemished mark of 5-0.

Madrid based guard Igor Rakocevic had 25 points in the loss.

In Group B, Germany needed triple overtime and a 47-point performance from Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki to edge African champions Angola 108-103, clinching second spot behind unbeaten Spain.

China and Australia both scored crucial wins to keep their hopes of advancing alive.

Wang Shipeng hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift China to a 78-77 Group D win over Slovenia while Australia pounded winless Qatar 93-46 in Group C to move a step closer to the knockout stage.

The top four teams in each of the four groups move on to the last 16.

Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming poured in 36 points, including 21 in the second half, and Wang made his only shot at the buzzer to give China the win.

"I dribbled to the three-point line and I saw the Slovenian centre come and thought it's the time and I took a shot, there was no time, there was nothing else I could do," Wang told a court-side reporter.

China and Slovenia will have to wait for the two later Group D matches to determine if they earn a place in the knockout round.