Tina Thompson scored 19 points and Candace Parker added 17 to lead two-time defending champion US 90-80 over Russia on Thursday and send it to the second round of basketball's Women's World Championship with its third win in as many games.
It was Russia's first loss, while the Americans finished first-round play atop Group C.
Spain outscored Brazil 12-9 in the final quarter and rallied to beat Brazil 67-66. Amaya Valdemoro led Spain with 19 points, while Brazil's Iziane also had 19.
Argentina got 25 points from Gisella Vega to notch its second straight win, 83-64 over South Korea.
The results finished Argentina atop Group A in first-round play, just ahead of Brazil and Spain, all of which had identical 2-1 records.
Eva Viteckova scored 23 points to lead five Czech players in double figures as the Czech Republic rolled over Taiwan 93-72. It was the Czechs' second straight win after an opening four-point loss to France.
Cuba downed France 78-73, led by Yakelyn Plutin with 22 points, while Yayma Boulet added 18 and Yamara Amargo had 17.
The Czechs finished atop Group D, followed by the French and Cuba.
Unbeaten Australia routed Canada 97-65 to finish first in Group B, while China beat winless Nigeria 71-59 to finish third in Group C and claim the last spot in the second round.
Ademola Lookman on Thursday scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis Balompie that sent Diego Simeone’s team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also scored for Atletico as they advanced to the last four for the third straight season. Atletico are trying to reach their first Copa final since winning the competition in 2012-2013. Hancko opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Giuliano Simeone added to the lead in the 30th, before Lookman got his first goal for Atletico on a fast
GUNNING FOR A WIN: The victory sending Arsenal to the final for the first time in six years was cathartic for a team who had lost their previous four semi-finals Arsenal on Tuesday reached the League Cup final for the first time in eight years as Kai Havertz sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg. Mikel Arteta’s side had put themselves in pole position in the first leg and Havertz came off the bench to finish the 4-2 aggregate victory in the closing moments at the Emirates Stadium. It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in last year’s UEFA Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 UEFA Europa League. In their first final for six years,
SUPERSTAR DELIVERS: Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to propel the Spurs to a 135-123 victory over the Dallas Mavericks The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday shook off the early exit of injured star Luka Doncic, rallying without him in the second half for a 119-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Austin Reaves, again coming off the bench in his second game back from a 19-game injury absence, scored 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, drilling a pair of back-to-back three-pointers to give the Lakers their first lead of the game early in the final frame. “Losing Luka, you know nothing’s going to be easy after that because he does so much for us, but we bonded together,” said
France head coach Fabien Galthie on Thursday lauded his team’s attacking performance after their dazzling 36-14 victory over Ireland in their Six Nations opener. A brace of tries from Louis Bielley-Biarrey and one from mercurial flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert helped France storm into a 29-0 lead before taking their foot off the gas and allowing Ireland back into the match, before winger Theo Attissogbe put some gloss on the victory late on. “In an attacking sense, with the ball, the team played with great accuracy,” Galthie said. “It was one of the most accurate attacking performances in a long time, despite the weather
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