LONDON (AP) — Tony Parker scored 27 points and Nicolas Batum added 21 to lead France to an 82-74 victory over Lithuania in the Olympic men’s basketball tournament on Thursday.
Ronny Turiaf, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, pulled down 10 rebounds for France (2-1), which was led by the NBA players on its roster. Batum plays with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Parker, star guard for the San Antonio Spurs, sank a 3-pointer to finish a 10-2 run that gave France a 59-52 lead at the end of third quarter. Wearing goggles to protect a surgically repaired left eye, he scored seven of France’s last eight points.
Linas Kleiza led Lithuania (1-2) with 17 points and Martynas Pocius added 15 off the bench. Pocius hit all of his five shots in the first half, including three 3-pointers.
