113

FINAL 1 2 3 4 T USA 27 32 29 25 113 Australia 23 6 20 24 73

73

Team USA moved one step closer in its pursuit of the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, crushing Australia 113-73 in an elimination-round matchup Sunday.

USA played its best quarter of the tournament, outscoring Australia 32-6 in the second period to turn a four-point lead into a 30-point rout at halftime.

Up next for the USA is Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (6:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2). USA Basketball is three victories away from accomplishing its goal of winning the tournament.

After a solid first quarter, Team USA clamped down defensively in the second. Although the USA increased its defensive pressure, its offense didn't suffer as it took a 59-29 lead into intermission.

Team USA went 14-for-27 from 3-point range, and forced 24 Australia turnovers.

Carmelo Anthony continued his outstanding play, finishing with 20 points. Joe Johnson added 18 and Dwyane Wade chipped in 15.

“I was just trying to be active on both ends of the court, make plays and provide some energy," Johnson said. "In the second quarter we really picked up our energy. We haven’t really gotten off to a good start these last few games, and that’s something we have to work on. But we came out in the second quarter tonight and picked up our defensive intensity and as a result we got some easy baskets and kept going from there. I think that was the deciding quarter tonight."

Andrew Bogut played well for Australia, scoring 20 points in defeat.

Team USA is now 6-0 at the World Championship.

“There’s a lot talent in this tournament," USA point guard Chris Paul said. "Some of these guys you don’t get to see in the NBA and some of the best players don’t play in the NBA and this is a great opportunity to play against them.

“We may not have played against everyone but we know just about everybody. We’ve seen film and we will see a lot more. Everybody on our team is watching games on tv at our hotel. We are all basketball junkies.”

PHOTOS

Photos: Check out Sunday's gallery from Team USA's win over Australia.

NBA TV Broadband

Aug. 27: USA-Australia postgame

LEADER BOARD

USA Australia Pts Anthony 20 Bogut 20 Reb Bosh 9 Mackinnon 7 Ast Hinrich 5 Bruton 4

QUEST FOR GOLD

NBA.com: USA Basketball coverage NBA.com: World Championship coverage USABasketball.com: Men's Index FIBA.com: WCOB coverage