Gasol brothers lead Spain over Germany

The Gasol brothers got the better of Dirk Nowitzki, leaving Germany on the brink of elimination at the European basketball championship.

The Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol scored 24 points and the Lakers’ Pau Gasol had 19 — all in the second half — to lead defending champion Spain past Germany, 77-68, Wednesday in the second-round group stage at Vilnius, Lithuania.

Led by 20 points from Tony Parker, France also moved closer to the quarterfinals by beating Turkey, 68-64. Host Lithuania used strong shooting to defeat Serbia, 100-90.

Germany couldn’t find an answer for the Gasols, a double threat down low. Spain led most of the way but needed a late 9-3 run to secure the victory. The Gasols scored Spain’s last nine points, with seven by Pau.

“At the beginning we didn’t play very smart, shooting too much from outside and not finding our rhythm. We got ahead a couple of times, but we weren’t able to pull away,” said Pau Gasol, who is playing with a sore ankle.

Nowitzki, who led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA championship last season, had 19 points for Germany. The Clippers’ Chris Kaman had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The loss leaves Germany in danger of missing the quarterfinals. Since head-to-head results from the first group stage carry over into this round, Germany is now 0-3, while Spain is 2-1 in their Group E.

Four teams from each group advance to the quarters. France is 3-0, Lithuania is 2-1 and Turkey and Serbia 1-2.

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Canada beat Uruguay, 70-68, and Venezuela routed Panama, 110-74, in the second round of the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament for the Americas at Mar del Plata, Argentina. All four teams were already out of contention for a place in the semifinals, with those spots having been decided on Tuesday. Argentina, Puerto Rico, Brazil and the Dominican Republic have all clinched a berth in the final four, with the pairings to be determined Thursday.

The two finalists qualify for next year’s London Olympics. The United States has already qualified for the games after winning the world championship last year.

Crosby calls it likely he will play

Sidney Crosby remains confident he’ll play hockey again, athough when remains a mystery.

The Pittsburgh Penguins star said Wednesday he’s continuing to recover from concussion-like symptoms that have sidelined him since January, adding it’s “likely” he’ll return to play this season.

Yet the 24-year-old former MVP remains adamant he won’t don his familiar No. 87 jersey until he’s back at full strength.

“Maybe I can get by with 90%, maybe I couldn’t, but I’m not going to roll the dice with that,” he said.

Flanked by Pittsburgh General Manager Ray Shero and the two doctors who have carefully monitored his progress after sustaining blows to the head in consecutive games nine months ago, Crosby shot down speculation he’s considering retirement.

While acknowledging there’s a “slight chance” he may never play again, Crosby quickly added “I wouldn’t bet on that.”

Dr. Michael Collins likened Crosby to a Ferrari. Sure, Crosby can go out and skate. He just can’t do the things he wants to do without experiencing a recurrence of the issues that have plagued him since January.

“Sid’s 100% is different than anybody else’s,” Collins said.

Crosby’s symptoms have included “fogginess” that at times made it difficult for him to drive or watch television. He’s also endured painful migraines and likened the recovery process to a roller coaster. The good days far outnumber the bad ones, but the bad ones aren’t gone completely.

“I’m lucky,” Crosby said. “I feel like I’m in pretty good shape and on the right end of this right now.”

ETC.: Gatti death called murder

Former junior-welterweight champion Arturo Gatti was murdered two years ago in Brazil, a panel of forensic evidence experts said Wednesday in North Bergen, N.J., as it presented the results of a 10-month investigation initiated to challenge the official version that Gatti committed suicide.

“This case must be reopened if authorities in Brazil have an iota of moral, ethical and legal concern for their reputation,” said noted forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, who termed the version produced by the initial criminal investigation “pure, unadulterated fiction.”

Brazilian authorities initially considered Gatti’s wife a prime suspect and arrested her, but released her soon after and concluded Gatti had hung himself with a handbag strap.

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A judge said Wednesday that ex-baseball star Roger Clemens’ defense team violated court orders by contacting jurors after his mistrial. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton is sending a letter to the jurors assuring them the court did not provide their contact information but asking if they now will speak with prosecutors.

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Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis won’t be listed on the November ballot as a New Jersey state Senate candidate, a federal judge has ruled. The judge affirmed Wednesday that Lewis’ constitutional rights will not be violated if he is prohibited from running for office as a Democrat. New Jersey’s top elections official, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, a Republican, previously said Lewis was ineligible to run because he doesn’t meet the state’s four-year residency requirement.

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Carlos Condit will face UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas after contender Nick Diaz failed to show up for promotional duties this week.

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British rider Christopher Froome won the 17th stage of the Vuelta at Pena Cabarga, Spain, beating overall leader Juan Jose Cobo in a back-and-forth duel on a grueling final uphill climb.

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NASCAR will return to Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway for the first time since 2004 when the Truck Series races there next season.