KG-MVP21

Gasol 19 Points 15 Reboints...Now Lithuania!

KG-MVP21

Australia Proves To Be No Match For Team U.S.A.

CNNSi.com - In the United States' first game of the second round, they dominated Australia by a final score of 113-73.

Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points, tied for the game's high along with Andrew Bogut.

The United States outscored Australia 18-1 during the first 7 minutes of the second quarter after leading by just four after the first quarter.

Shane Battier is proving to be Team U.S.A.'s most dangerous perimeter threat, as he scored 12 points, all from 3-point territory.

Next up for the Americans will be Germany.

KirkHinrich12

I saw part of the game. Got to see Hinrich play some. Man, he's a machine. He was pushing it on offense, making the engine run, and he was a force on defense

KG-MVP21

Spain, Argentina Remain Undefeated

Toronto Star - Pau Gasol had 25 points and nine rebounds and Spain used another impressive performance to beat Lithuania 89-67 Tuesday and advance to the tournament's final four for the second time.

Spain (7-0) will play Friday against Argentina, who disposed of Turkey 83-58. Andres Nocioni led the Argentinians with 21 points, including 6-for-7 from the field, and 6 rebounds.

"The team who beats us is the team that plays really well,'' Spain coach Pepu Hernandez said. "We know we can lose if we don't do the right job and be the team we have been until this moment. They can beat us, but it will be difficult."

Anthony_MVP

I say that Spain will win the FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, USA in second possition and Argentina third.

__________________

KG-MVP21

France Slips Past Germany With Late Layup

Sports Illustrated - Mickael Gelable's layup with 1.8 seconds left gave France a 75-73 victory over Germany on Thursday in a classification game in the basketball world championship.

Germany's final possession ended when Dirk Nowitzki took an inbounds pass on the left sideline and as he turned to get off the possible game-winning shot, he stepped on the line with .9 seconds to go.

France (5-3) will play Turkey (6-2) for fifth place on Saturday. Turkey beat Lithuania 95-84 in overtime on Thursday

It was a sad game at the end

KG-MVP21

LeBronze For The United States

RealGM.com - It might not be gold, but the United States managed to avoid coming away from the World Championships in Japan empty handed after they were able to overcome Manu Ginobili and Argentina 96-81 to take the bronze.

Dwyane Wade came to life late to lead the US with 32 points, while fellow captains LeBron James had 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, and Carmelo Anthony had 15.

For Argentina Luis Scola had 19 points, Chicago Bull Andres Nocioni had 18 to keep his good form going, and Carlos Delfino had 13. Manu Ginobili only had 10 points in the loss.

Just as they did in the loss to Greece, the US struggled from the line, going 15-30 for 50%, but Argentina were not much better going 9/16 (56%) from the c96harity stripe and 4/21 (19%) from behind the arc.

France Down Turkey To Take Fifth

Fiba.com - A five-point possession following an unsportsmanlike foul allowed France to beat Turkey 64-56 and capture fifth place at the FIBA World Championship.

Joseph Gomis made three free throws and Mickael Gelabale dunked home a missed jumper to give France a nine-point lead with 3:46 remaining in the game.

And that would prove enough despite France missing six foul shots in the final 2:20.

"We're fifth and that's the main thing that we'll remember," said France captain Boris Diaw, whose team finished 6-3 in the tournament with losses to Argentina, Lebanon and Greece.

"Other than the game against Lebanon where we really didn't do well, we lose to Greece who are in the finals and to Argentina who are playing for the bronze medal. So we don't have anything to feel sorry about."

Florent Pietrus led Claude Bergeaud's team with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Frederic Weis chipped in with 11 points and Laurent Foirest added 10 off the bench. Diaw fouled out with eight points, six rebounds, three assists but five turnovers.

Gasol Ruled Out Of Gold Medal Game

Fiba.com - Spain have confirmed their superstar Pau Gasol will miss Sunday's FIBA World Championship final against Greece with a left foot injury.

Gasol, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in Spain's 75-74 triumph over Argentina, missed the end of the game after falling ackwardly under the challenge of Fabricio Oberto.

"Tests have confirmed that the player suffers from a partial fracture of his fifth metatarsal in his left foot and will miss the final," said a statement from the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB).

The loss of Gasol was expected with the player having been taken to hospital after the win over Argentina to have x-rays.

The player and his younger brother Marc Gasol, were both in tears as they left the court in Saitama following the game with the realisation that Pau was suffering.

Gasol is devastated not to be a part of the game but will support his team-mates from the bench.

"I will try to be with my team-mates for whatever they need, but what really hurts me is not to be able to be on the court physically in order to help as I have done in the past in this tournament," he said.

"I hope that against Greece we will play a great game. We have nothing to envy Greece and we must firmly believe that we are a great team and that we have reached this final only through merit. A gold medal around my neck would take away all the pain that I'm currently feeling."

BUT WE'LL WIN FOR PAU & HIS BEARD!

KirkHinrich12

Any word on whether he will miss time during the NBA season?

KG-MVP21

Lithuania Down Germany To Take Seventh

Lithuania have beaten Germany 77-62 to take seventh place at the World Championships, leaving Dirk Nowitzki and the Germans in eighth place.

Darjus Lavrinovic scored 18 points for the Lithuanians, Denver's Linas Kleiza had 16, and Washington forward Darius Songaila had 13 points and 6 rebounds.

For Germany it was again Nowitzki who led the way with 18 points and 6 rebounds.