The US opened the first day of knockout play with a strong 86-63 win over Mexico at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

Led by the hot shooting of Stephen Curry, who totalled 20 points, the reigning world champions posted their sixth successive win in eight days to set up a quarter-final tie with Slovenia, who beat the Dominican Republic in their round of 16 affair.

Gustavo Ayon, one of the two Mexicans with National Basketball Association experience, cut a lonely figure for a struggling Mexico side as he posted a tournament high 25 points to keep the score respectable, despite the US dominance.

Spain's win came at the expense of Senegal as Pau Gasol excited the home crowds with a match high-scoring of 17 points, en route to his side's 89-56 victory.

Joe Calderon, Felipe Reyes and Serge Ibaka each added 11 points and Ricky Rubio collected seven points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals as the hosts set up a tricky encounter with France in the quarter-finals.

The two sides have already met at this inaugural World Cup, with Spain recording an 88-64 victory over the 2013 European champions during the group stages in Granada.

France set up a juicy quarter-final encounter with Spain after a tight 69-64 victory over Croatia ©Getty Images



France will be hoping to exact revenge on Wednesday (September 10) after setting up the encounter with a low-scoring 69-64 victory over Croatia in their round of 16 tie.

The French got off to a slow start as they fell 15-7 behind in the first quarter, before turning the match around to lead 23-22 coming into the halftime break.

A 19-5 surge helped the recovering French team into a 46-34 lead after the third quarter and they were able to hold onto this lead in the final period to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Slovenia's match with the Dominican Republic looked to be a tooth and nail encounter as the sides came into the break at 15 all.

That was until the Dragic brothers, Goran and Zoran, moved through the gears and led their side to a 19-0 charge en route to a 71-61 victory.

Round of 16 action continues in Spain tomorrow where four more ties will be held across Madrid and Barcelona.

This will be followed by the first of four quarter-final fixtures on Tuesday (September 9), before the semi-finals and finals beginning from Thursday (September 11).

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