After scoring 31 points against Latvia yesterday, San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker came up big yet again for Les Bleus to lead them to a 85-68 win over Israel for a perfect 2-0 record in Eurobasket play.
France got started early with a 10-2 run, lead by Blazers forward Nicolas Batum, but Israel would bounce back with their own 13-0 rally.
Israel stayed within reach, trailing by seven points going into the half.
France then widened the gap with Tony Parker and Bulls center Joakim Noah scoring easily in the paint and getting to the line.
Israel never got back within reasonable distance to make a run at it, Parker and France continued shredding Israel’s defense inside and out, shooting 59 percent from the field and 57 percent beyond the arch.
Noah, Kevin Seraphin and Bobcats forward Boris Diaw owned the boards, giving France a 40 to 20 rebounding advantage.
Parker was dominant once again, slicing through the Israeli defense, and even knocking down two three-pointers for 21 points and eight assists in just 32 minutes. Batum added 15 points and six steals.
Former Spurs draftee Nando De Colo finished the game with three points in nine minutes. Lior Eliyahu lead Israel with 15 points in only 15 minutes off the bench.
Parker, De Colo and France will look to go 3-0 as the competition gets a little tougher against Dirk Nowitzki and Germany tomorrow.
