ISTANBUL (AP) - The United States earned a top seed in the knockout round of the world championship with an 88-51 victory over Iran on Wednesday in the first meeting between the countries with a history of contentious relations.

The U.S. team, which downplayed the political aspect of the game, methodically pulled away in the first half, wearing down the Asian champions with its depth and athleticism.

Kevin Love scored 13 points and Kevin Durant had 12 for the Americans (4-0), who will meet the fourth-place team from Group A in the round of 16.

The Americans shot 58 percent from the field and scored 23 points off turnovers.

Hamed Haddadi scored 19 points for Iran (1-3) and Arsalan Kazemi had 14.

The only sparring on the court was a playful bump between Haddadi and U.S. forward Rudy Gay, teammates with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.Group ASerbia 94, Australia 79

Nenad Krstic returned from a three-game suspension for a brawl and had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Serbia (3-1). Milos Teodosic, who was given a two-game suspension, added 19 points for Serbia, which clinched a place in the knockout round.

Australia pulled within three points with 2:07 remaining on Matt Nielsen's 3-pointer, but got no closer.

Brad Newley had 13 points for Australia (2-2).Angola 92, Germany 88, OT

Olimpio Cipriano scored 30 points for Angola (2-2), which rallied from a 10-point deficit late in the game. Angola advances to the second round, while Germany (1-3) was eliminated.

Jan Jagla led Germany with 23 points.Argentina 88, Jordan 79

Luis Scola scored 30 points, his third straight game with at least that many, to lead top-ranked Argentina (4-0) to its fourth straight win.

Rasheim Wright had 22 points for Jordan (0-4).Group BCroatia 84, Tunisia 64

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points for Croatia (2-2), which scored the game's first 10 points.

Macram Ben Romdhane scored 23 points for Tunisia (0-4), which ends preliminary play against the United States.Slovenia 80, Brazil 77

Jaka Lakovic scored 20 points, including consecutive 3-pointers to halt a furious Brazil comeback, and Slovenia blew nearly all of a 17-point lead before holding on.

Slovenia (3-1) took sole possession of second place in Group B, while Brazil (2-2) came up just short again after losing by two points to the United States on Monday.

Brazil forward Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers played for the first time after missing the first three games of the world championship while recovering from a sprained ankle. He had four points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

Marcelo Machado scored 20 points for Brazil (2-2).Group CRussia 89, China 80

Sergey Monya scored 17 points and Sasha Kaun added 16 to lead Russia (3-1), which advanced to the round of 16.

Sun Yue scored 19 points for China (1-3).Greece 97, Ivory Coast 60

Nick Calathes, who played at Florida, scored 15 points to lead Greece (3-1), which secured a spot in the knockout round.

Brice Assie had 11 points for Ivory Coast (0-4), the group's only winless team.Turkey 79, Puerto Rico 77

Hidayet Turkoglu of the Phoenix Suns had 16 points and Ersan Ilyasova of the Milwaukee Bucks added 13 points and 13 rebounds for Turkey (4-0), the host team

Angel Vassalo scored 19 points for Puerto Rico (1-3), which needed a win to guarantee a spot in the knockout round.Group DNew Zealand 71, Canada 61

Kirk Penney scored 18 points to help New Zealand (2-2) eliminate Canada (0-4).

Jevohn Shepherd led Canada with 15 points.

Canada's Andy Rautins of the New York Knicks returned to New York to have a bruised knee examined to make sure he's ready for training camp.Spain 91, Lebanon 57

Marc Gasol scored 25 points to lead defending champion Spain (2-2) into the knockout round.

Jackson Vroman led Lebanon (1-3) with 22 points.Lithuania 69, France 55

Jonas Maciulis had 19 points and Linas Kleiza added 15 for Lithuania (4-0). which clinched the top spot in Group D.

Nicolas Batum led France (3-1) with 13 points.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.