Tunisia, which finished third at the FIBA Africa Championship 2009, and the Asian champion Iran, both made their tournament debuts, while Croatia returned for the first time since 1994.
After Slovenia had cut the lead to five late in the first half, the Americans went on a 31–9 run stretching into the third quarter to blow the game open.
[4] Kevin Durant led the United States with 22 points, while five Americans reached double figures for the second consecutive game.
Slovenia quickly erased a five-point halftime deficit, taking the lead for good on Miha Zupan's three-pointer with 6:33 remaining in the game.
Tournament debutants Iran and Tunisia faced off in the second game of the day, each looking for their first ever World Championship victory.
[8] Iran opened up a 24-point second half lead as Tunisia struggled to shoot the ball, scoring only 36 points in the first three quarters.
Unbeaten Brazil and United States met in the day's final game in a match that would determine the group winner, in all likelihood.
After Brazil tied the game in the fourth, Lamar Odom's dunk with 7:13 left that gave the Americans a 64–62 lead that they would not relinquish.
Brazil had two chances to send the game to overtime in the final seconds, but Marcelo Huertas missed two free throws and Leandro Barbosa's shot clanged off the rim as time expired.
In the battle for second place in the group, Slovenia beat Brazil 80–77 despite Anderson Varejão making his tournament debut for the Brazilians.
[13] Eric Gordon scored 21 points as the United States finished group play undefeated for the second consecutive World Championship.
The only game of the day with implication in the standings had little drama as Brazil rebounded from two straight losses dominated Croatia in a 92–74 victory.