EUROBASKET 2011

Turning Point: France outscored Germany 8-2 over the last 1:27 of the second quarter to lead 29-28. They then stretched the lead to 41-33 over the first 4:30 of the 3rd quarter with Tony Parker hitting a lay-up and nailing a three-pointer in the surge.

Game Hero: Tony Parker was majestic, pouring in 32 points and handing out six assists while also coming up with two steals.

Stats Don't Lie: France scored 38 of their 74 points in the paint. Germany had 16 in the paint but were 23 of 27 at the free-throw line.

Tony Parker has never played better and that's very good news for France as they try to win games at the EuroBasket.

The veteran point guard exploded for 32 points, scoring on dazzling drives to the basket and also hitting a couple of three-pointers as France clinched a third straight victory with a 76-65 triumph over Germany.

Parker is leading the EuroBasket in scoring with an average of 28 points.

In a battle of Group B unbeatens, Germany led for much of the first half with Dirk Nowitzki pouring in 10 first-quarter points.

France outscored the Germans 8-2 over the last 1:27 of the second quarter, though, to lead 29-28.

Next they stretched the lead to 41-33 midway through the third quarter.

Parker made a lay-up and after center Joakim Noah intercepted a pass by Heiko Schaffartzik, the ball ended up in the hands of Parker and he buried a three-pointer.

Noah then scored his first two points of the game with a strong move inside for the eight-point advantage.

The French lowered the boom with a 12-1 run to close the third quarter on top, 58-40.

The lead ballooned to 66-45 with 7:15 to go in the contest when Parker stole the ball from Lucca Staiger and drove in for a lay-up for his last two points of the game.

Nowitzki and Chris Kaman sat for much of the second half although the former did come back into the game and helped Germany reduce the arrears to 72-62 but that was as close as Dirk Bauermann's team would get.

Nowitzki finished with 20 points and six rebounds.

The other French players to hit double digits were Nicolas Batum with 14 and Mickael Gelabale with 10.

Noah had a team-high seven rebounds to go with his eight points.