Parker, Batum lead France past Lithuania
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Tony Parker scored 27 points and Nicolas Batum added 21, leading France to an 82-74 victory over Lithuania in men's basketball.
The French have won two straight games after opening Group A with a loss to the United States. France shot 53.4 percent on Thursday, fueled by its two NBA stars. Parker, of the San Antonio Spurs, made 7-of-11 shots and Portland's Batum was 7-of-9 from the field.
Martynas Pocius scored 18 points to lead Lithuania, which is 1-2 and will play the United States on Saturday. Linas Kleiza contributed 17 points and seven rebounds in defeat.
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France led by as many as nine in the first quarter and carried a 25-21 edge to the second, but Lithuania pulled in front late in the first half and built a 43-39 advantage at the break.
A three-pointer by France's Mickael Gelabale snapped a 49-49 tie with just under three minutes left in the third, igniting a 10-3 run to close the period. Boris Diaw scored four during the burst and set up Parker's three in the final seconds, sending the French to the fourth with a 59-52 advantage.
Batum started the final period with a bucket and the French continued to pour it on, opening a 70-54 cushion with just over six minutes to play. Lithuania got only as close as six in the final seconds.