Three teams from the FIBA Americas, and Australia, claimed victories on Day Four of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
The United States improved to 3-0 in Group C with a 98-71 triumph over New Zealand (0-3) in Bilbao.
Anthony Davis scored 21 points and corralled nine rebounds as the USA dominated the Tall Blacks.
The Dominican Republic then won a vital game against Finland in the Bilbao nightcap, 74-68, with Eloy Vargas dominating on the inside.
Vargas finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the Dominicans, who improved their record to 2-1.
The Finns got a sensational effort from Petteri Koponen, who had 21 points, nine assists and two steals, but they slumped to 1-2 in the tournament.
Orlando Antigua’s side out-rebounded Finland, 49-28.
Ukraine (2-1) dug deep and beat Turkey (1-2), 64-58, in the first game of the day on Tuesday in Group C.
The win for Mike Fratello’s team was all the more impressive as it came in the absence of star shooting guard Sergii Gladyr, who sat out because of a foot injury sustained in Sunday’s loss to Finland.
Olexandr Mishula (19 points) and Ihor Zaytsev (12 pointts) made some big plays for the Ukrainians.
In Group D, the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship winners Mexico bolstered their chances of progressing to the Round of 16 with a 79-55 rout of Angola (1-2).
Gustavo Ayon had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Mexico (1-2).
Australia (2-1) stormed into a 47-28 half-time advantage against Lithuania (2-1) and then held on for an 82-75 triumph.
Joe Ingles had 18 points, four assists and three steals for the Boomers.
Slovenia were in a real dogfight with Korea for the first two quarters of their clash but pulled away in the second half for an 89-72 win.
Goran Dragic poured in 22 points for the winners.
After Tuesday serverd as a day off for Groups A and B have a day off, all 24 teams will be back in action on Wednesday.
