Spain upset by Slovenia at Euro champs

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Goran Dragic scored 18 points to lead host Slovenia to a 78-69 upset of defending champion Spain at the European basketball championship on Thursday.

Dragic, a guard in the NBA, also had six rebounds, seven assists and two steals and scored the last four points of the game in Celje.

Spain is bidding to become the first team to win three consecutive European titles since Yugoslavia in the 1970s. Spain led early in the game but could never slip from Slovenia.

"Everything worked out," Dragic said. "We had nothing to lose and we deserved to win."

Bostjan Nachbar, who finished with 14 points, made two free throws to put Slovenia up 74-69 with 1:12 left. Jose Calderon missed on Spain's next possession and Dragic made a layup and sank a jumper to send his team to its second win in two games. Spain is 1-1.

Marc Gasol had 17 points for Spain.

In Ljubljana, France got 17 points from Nicolas Batum and 16 from Tony Parker in crushing Britain 88-65 to bounce back from an opening loss to Germany.

Greece beat Russia 80-71 to stay perfect after two games. Russia, bronze medalist two years ago, is in deep trouble after two straight losses.

Lithuania rebounded from an opening loss to Serbia by beating Macedonia 75-67. Macedonia upset Lithuania on its own soil two years ago to reach the semifinals but is winless like Russia.

Another European power in trouble is Turkey, which also dropped its second straight.

Pietro Aradori scored 23 points to lead Italy past Turkey 90-75.

Alessandro Gentile added 20 points, and Nicolo Melli notched 14 and 10 rebounds in Italy's second consecutive victory. Turkey, silver medalist at the 2010 worlds at home, is in danger of failing to qualify for the second round.

Also, Serbia beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 77-67 and the Czech Republic edged Poland 69-68 on Lubos Barton's 3-pointer with four seconds remaining.

In Ljubljana, Belgium beat Germany 77-73 in overtime.

Germany's Lucca Steiger sank a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Heiko Schaffartzik made two free throws to bring Germany within one in overtime but then missed two more after Sacha Massot had made one for Belgium. Schaffartzik tried to get Germany to rebound the ball on his second attempt but Tibor Pleiss missed the tip-in and Roel Moors than sank two free throws to secure Belgium's victory.

In Celje, Maciej Lampe made two free throws to leave Poland up by two and eight seconds on the clock but Barton nailed the 3-pointer to seal the Czechs' victory. NBA forward Jan Vesely led the Czechs with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

Slovenian riot police had to step in to end clashes between Serbian and Bosnian fans before the game in Jesenice. Serbia took early command and led by as many as 25 before cruising home for its second victory behind Stefan Markovic's 15 points. Nemanja Bjelica had seven points and 11 rebounds. Nihad Djedovic had 17 points and Mirza Teletovic added 16 for the winless Bosnians.

Earlier, Ante Tomic made a layup with nine seconds remaining to give Croatia a 77-76 victory over Georgia.

Also, Ukraine and Latvia won their second games in two days. Ukraine beat Israel 74-67 behind 17 points from Sergii Gladir, while Latvia edged Montenegro 73-72 on a jumper by Kristaps Janicenoks with six seconds on the clock.

Finland also won its second straight by beating Sweden 81-60.