The Boomers have put their basketball world championship destiny in their own hands heading into a clash with Serbia who regain controversial leading man Nenad Krstic.

The Australians produced a top-shelf effort to thrash Germany 78-43 on Monday and know victory over another European superpower Serbia on Wednesday (2330 AEST) will give them a great chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

But the Serbians will be boosted by the return of Krstic, who was suspended for the first three games of the world championship in Turkey for his role in a brawl in a warm-up game against Greece.

The Oklahoma City centre threw a series of punches at Greek centre Sofoklis Schortsanitis before grabbing a courtside chair and hurling it at the player known as Baby Shaq.

Serbia's Milos Teodosic and Greek players Schortsanitis and Antonis Fotsis received two-game bans. While most believed Krstic got off lightly, governing body FIBA felt the punishment sent "a strong message to all players".

Asked about the suspension, Australian coach Brett Brown gave a very measured response.

"It's a very interesting assessment that FIBA have made in regards to the punishment," he told AAP.

"They had their reasons for assessing the fine and we move forward."

The Australians prefer to concentrate on their own fortunes. Their target leading into the tournament was firstly to finish in the top four of Group A to ensure passage to the next round, but also to place higher than fourth to avoid a likely crossover match against gold medal favourites the United States.

At both the 2006 world titles and 2008 Olympics that is the fate that befell the Boomers, leading to one-sided losses in the first knock-out round.

Following a one-point win over Jordan and a two-point loss to Argentina, Australia's hammering of Germany leaves them third in their group. They have a day off before taking on the Serbians, when victory - plus a win over lowly Angola in their final group game - would leave them at least second and in a terrific position to reach the last eight.

"In a way I wish the Serbia game was tomorrow because we've got that momentum, but we can all do with a day off to let the body recharge," point guard Patty Mills said.

"That's the next big one and we've got to play as good as we did against Germany if not better to win it."

Following a below-par effort against Jordan, Mills continued to find form against Germany, leading the way with 16 points, seven assists, two steals and just two turnovers. Centre Aleks Maric also bounced back from a quiet game against Argentina with 15 points and five boards for an Australian side that appears to be clicking at just the right time.

In other action on Monday, the United States narrowly avoided a shock upset at the hands of Group B rivals Brazil before scraping through 70-68 in Istanbul.

In the dying seconds, American Kevin Durant fouled Marcelo Huertas as he attempted to tie the game up at 70-70. Missing his first from the foul line, Huertas then missed his second on purpose, rebounding his own shot before off loading to team-mate Leandro Barbosa under the hoop. Barbosa could not make the shot, allowing the USA to hold on. In the big Group C clash of the day Slovenia beat Croatia 91-84.

James Dampney
AAP