In the News

France now 3-0 at worlds, tops Canada (AP)
Nicolas Batum and Mickael Gelabale each hit a pair of free throws in the final 17 seconds to help France clinch a 68-63 win over Canada on Tuesday at the basketball world championship. France center Ali Traore blocked a running hook by Denham Brown with 18 seconds left in the game that would have cut the lead to one.

Gelabale lifts France past Lebanon (AP)
Mickael Gelabale scored 18 points and Alain Koffi added 17 as France beat Lebanon 86-59 on Sunday in the opening round of the basketball world championships. France (2-0), which upset defending champion Spain 72-66 in its opener, broke this game open with a 10-0 run in the second quarter that gave it a 30-20 lead.

France gets by defending champion Spain (AP)
Mickael Gelabale scored 16 points and France was nearly perfect at the free throw late in its 72-66 victory over defending champion Spain on Saturday at the world championship. France (1-0) made 10 of its last 12 free throws to seal the win in the opening game for both teams. Juan Carlos Navarro led Spain (0-1) with 17 points.

Sonics' Gelabale out for season with torn ACL
The Seattle SuperSonics have lost reserve swingman Mickael Gelabale for the remainder of the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Kobe tossed, Lakers win eighth straight (AP)

Kobe Bryant made it look too easy scoring, distributing and leading the Los Angeles Lakers back to the top of the Western Conference. Even if he didn't get to see the final 16 minutes. Bryant scored 21 points in just 26 minutes, handed out 10 assists, and picked up his first ejection of the season in Los Angeles' 111-91 win -- its season-high eighth straight -- over the Seattle SuperSonics on...

Kevin Durant scored 30 points, fellow rookie Jeff Green added 17, and the Seattle SuperSonics beat the slumping New York Knicks 117-110 Wednesday night. Former Knicks forward Kurt Thomas scored five clutch points in the final 2:31 as Seattle handed New York its fourth straight loss. Luke Ridnour and Wally Szczerbiak each scored 12 points to help the SuperSonics snap a five-game road skid.

P.J. Carlesimo earned his first win as SuperSonics' coach, 96-90 over the Cleveland Cavaliers in an exhibition game Friday night. Cavs All-Star forward LeBron James was forced out of action in the third quarter because of a right shoulder contusion. The injury doesn't appear to be serious. He had 14 points for the Cavs.