Madrid, Spain – Tony Parker scored 36 points Tuesday, leading Group D leader France past Italy 69-62 and handing the Olympic basketball runner-up its second loss at the European championship.
Pau Gasol had 26 points and nine rebounds to lead world champion Spain over a stubborn Latvia side 93-77 in Sevilla, where Croatia (1-1) beat Portugal (0-2) 90-68 in another Group B game. Lithuania moved into the second round with a 95-75 win over Group C rival Czech Republic (0-2) before Germany (2-0) routed Turkey (0-2) 79-49 behind 24 points from Dirk Nowitzki.
At Granada, Serbia’s Milan Gurovic banked in a 3-pointer from inside half-court to force overtime against Greece, although the reigning champions stayed undefeated with a 68-67 win. Also in Group A, Russia won its second straight, dominating last-minute qualifier Israel 90-56.
Lithuania got a 95-75 win over Group C rival Czech Republic (0-2). In the other Group D match, Slovenia (2-0) advanced with a 70-52 win over Poland.
MOTORSPORTS
Busch driver cleared to race
Brad Keselowski has no lingering effects from his frightening accident at California Speedway during Saturday night’s Busch Series race, and was cleared to race this weekend in Richmond.
JR Motorsports then signed the 23-year-old to finish the season in the No. 88 Chevrolet.
Tony Eury Jr. will be Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports next season.
NHL
Roenick’s back, this time with Sharks
Center Jeremy Roenick signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks, postponing retirement for another shot at a Stanley Cup.
The nine-time all-star’s career seemed over after he scored only 28 points in 70 games with the Phoenix Coyotes last season.
Forward Fernando Pisani will be out of the Edmonton Oilers’ lineup indefinitely after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disorder.
“We are very concerned about Fernando’s medical condition and we wish him nothing but a full and healthy recovery,” general manager Kevin Lowe said.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NHL after his plea last month of no contest to drunken-driving and hit-and-run charges in Toronto.
Bell was placed into Stage 2 of the NHL’s substance abuse program. He has been part of Stage 1 since last September, when he was arrested in California.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
BC’s Skinner gets contract extended
Boston College coach Al Skinner has agreed to a contract extension through the 2012-13 season.
Skinner is 196-120 in 10 seasons at BC, including 164 wins and six NCAA Tournament berths since the 2000-01 season. The Eagles were 21-12 last season, losing to Georgetown in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Former Florida A&M basketball coach Mike Gillespie pleaded no contest to charges of stalking a former girlfriend and was sentenced to a year of probation.
The court also ordered Gillespie, who is married, to permanently stay away from the victim in the case. He will receive counseling twice monthly during the terms of the plea agreement in addition to paying court costs.
Stuard Baldonado, one of five Duquesne University basketball players wounded in an on-campus shooting Sept. 17, was suspended indefinitely from the team for an apparent student-code violation.
Former Clemson basketball standout Clarke Bynum died after a long battle with cancer, the school said. He was 45.
FOOTNOTES
Catchings to have Achilles surgery
Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings will undergo surgery today to repair a torn Achilles tendon in her right foot.
Catchings, an U.S. Olympic gold medalist and a five-time WNBA all-star, was injured during Monday’s Eastern Conference finals loss at Detroit. She collapsed to the floor during the final minute in the first half and was taken from the floor in a wheelchair.
Her expected recovery time is six to nine months, a Fever publicist said.
Russian cyclist Vladimir Efimkin pushed ahead of the pack and held on to win the grueling fourth stage of the Spanish Vuelta in Lagos de Covadonga, Spain, and took the overall lead.
The T-Mobile cycling team fired rider Lorenzo Bernucci after his positive doping test at the Tour of Germany last month.
