Varejao, Barbosa power Brazil into 3rd
September 2, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Marcelo Machado scored 18 points, Anderson Varejao(notes) grabbed12 rebounds in his longest stint at the world championship, and Brazil clinchedthird place in Group B with a 92-74 victory over Croatia on Thursday.
Brazil (3-2) bounced back from a pair of narrow losses to earn a meetingwith South American rival Argentina on Tuesday. Brazil coach Ruben Magnanoguided the Argentines to the 2004 Olympic gold medal.
Leandro Barbosa(notes) added 17 points and Alex Garcia 15 for the Brazilians, whohad lost by two the United States and by three to Slovenia in their last twooutings. They took control by hitting 7-of-10 shots in the second quarter,ensuring they wouldn’t have another one go to the wire.
Varejao, who missed the first three games while recovering from a sprainedright ankle, started and played 24 minutes Thursday, providing the usual energyon the backboards that he gives the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Marko Popovic scored 15 points for Croatia (2-3), which will play Group Achampion Serbia on Saturday.
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