USA will look to continue their march towards a second straight title at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, as the tournament in Spain heads into the quarterfinals stage.
Where to Watch Live
Lithuania vs Turkey is scheduled for a 5 pm local time (8.30 pm IST, 11 am ET) start, while USA vs Slovenia will begin at 9 pm (12.30 am IST, 3 pm ET). TV coverage in India will be on Neo Sports and Neo Prime. The FIBA Basketball World Cup will be shown live in the US on ESPN 3 and ESPN 2. Viewers can also catch the action via live streaming online HERE. International viewers, including India, can live stream all the action HERE.
The Americans will take on dangerous Slovenia in the quarters, while Turkey and Lithuania face off in another last eight game on Tuesday.
The USA have rarely been tested so far in this tournament, cruising through the group stages with consummate ease, before seeing off the challenge of Mexico in the round of 16 comfortably enough.
However, the US team and Mike Krzyzewski will know the tournament will keep getting tougher with every passing game, with Slovenia set to pose a seriously stiff test.
"We have faced really good competition," said the US coach Krzyzewski. "It's more open than people think. There are a lot of good teams.
"My respect for the international community keeps growing every time I'm in a competition, because I see other countries playing so well."
Slovenia are powered by the Dragic brothers Goran and Zoran. The European side shut out the Dominican Republic in the previous round, and have lost only one game all tournament.
Much will depend on the Dragic brothers, who have been pivotal to Slovenia's fortunes, but if the USA find their offensive rhythm, especially courtesy their big men Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried, then there will be only one result.
The first quarterfinal on Tuesday will be between Turkey and Lithuania, with both teams having to pull out all the stops to get past their respective opponents in the last 16.
Lithuania, the third-place finishers in the last World Cup, had to quell a late charge from New Zealand to book their place in the quarterfinals, while Emir Preldzic was the man of the moment for Turkey, who were the finalists last time around, losing to the USA, hitting a couple of late three-pointers to help see off the challenge of Australia.
"I hope I can do this for every birthday," Preldzic told FIBA's official website after scoring 16 game-winning points on his 27th birthday. "These are the moments you live for as a basketball player
"There is no more joy than delivering when the team needs you the most."
The all-European quarterfinal is expected to be a fascinating one, and the team that probably jumps out of the blocks quicker and gains control will be the one staring at a likely semifinal with the USA.
