A mere one-point lead after one period turned into another blowout win on Day 12 as Team USA throttled Australia 116-85. The key? A 57-20 rebounding edge for the Americans, who advanced to the semifinals.

Yao Ming and host China achieved the goal of reaching the quarterfinals, but nothing more -- falling short of the semis and a possible medal thanks to 23 points from Sarunas Jasikevicius and a 94-68 loss to Lithuania.

Behind 26 points and 14 rebounds from Sylvia Fowles, the U.S. women advanced to the semifinals with a 104-60 victory against South Korea on Day 11 -- the squad's 31st consecutive win in Olympic games.

Australia clinched a semifinal berth for the third straight Olympics on Day 11, dominating the Czech Republic 79-46. The Aussies will face host China -- a 77-62 winner against Belarus -- in the semis.

Any concerns about a U.S. letdown after the win against Spain were unfounded, made apparent by a 106-57 victory against Germany on Day 10. Australia is next for the U.S. in the quarterfinals.

Australia erased a 16-point first-half deficit on Day 9, clinching the top seed out of Group A with a convincing 75-55 victory against Russia. The Aussies outscored Russia 50-18 in the second half. 

Chris Paul's postgame claim was strongly supported on Day 8, when Team USA clinched the top seed out of Group B with a 119-82 thumping of defending world champion Spain. The U.S. is now 4-0 in Beijing.

The stated goal of the Chinese men's basketball team -- a quarterfinal berth -- has been reached, thanks to a 25-point effort from Yao Ming on Day 8 that led to a 59-55 win against Germany, who was eliminated.

After losing their Beijing opener, 2004 Olympic champion Argentina is now 3-1 and in second place in Group A after a third consecutive win, this one coming on Day 8 by a 97-82 score against Iran.

The three-time defending Olympic champion U.S. women secured the top seed out of Group B on Day 7 by beating Spain 93-55. Team USA blew open a close game, outscoring Spain 54-21 in the second half.

Two years was long enough. After losing to Greece in the 2006 World Championship, the U.S. men came out with a purpose on Day 6, routing Greece 92-69 behind 18 points each from Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh.

In a must-win game -- if they wanted to reach the quarterfinals -- host China kept its hopes of playing a sixth game alive by beating Angola 85-68 on Day 6. Yao Ming led the way with 30 points on 10-for-11 shooting.

In similar fashion to most of their wins, the United States women quickly put away overmatched Mali on Day 5, cruising to a 97-41 victory -- their 28th consecutive Olympic win -- behind 16 points from Lisa Leslie.