Without Tony Parker and Joakim Noah, France was no match for Pau Gasol's Spain at the European Basketball Championship. Spain broke open the game with a 27-4 run in the third quarter and won 96-69 Sunday to claim first place in their second-round group. Parker and Noah were rested as the two teams had already qualified for the quarterfinals, but Spain still spread the minutes among all 12 players. Guard Juan Carlos Navarro hit all four of his 3-point attempts and finished with 16 points, while Rudy Fernandez had 15 for Spain. Serbia joined it in the final eight by holding on for a 68-67 victory over Turkey after Ersan Ilyasova missed the last shot of the game. Germany needs to beat host Lithuania by 11 points or more in the late game to reach the quarters. France coach Vincent Collet dismissed suggestions that he did the tournament a disservice by resting two of his starters, as forward Mickael Gelabale was also out with a previous knee injury. “Noah got a hit in the calf and he wanted to play, but the doctor said no,” Collet said. “Tony has played more than 30 minutes in each of the previous games and he needed a rest.” France stayed within one at halftime, but Spain then used its big third quarter to run away with the win and deal France its first defeat of the tournament. Center Kevin Seraphin led France with 18 points. Pau Gasol had 11 points in 18 minutes and his brother Marc Gasol added nine in 21.
