Varejao returns but Brazil falls
September 1, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Jaka Lakovic scored 20 points, hitting consecutive3-pointers to halt a furious Brazil comeback, and Slovenia blew nearly all of a17-point lead before holding on for an 80-77 victory Wednesday.
Slovenia (3-1) took sole possession of second place in Group B, while Brazil(2-2) came up just short again after losing by two to the United States onMonday.
Brazil forward Anderson Varejao(notes) of the Cleveland Cavaliers played for thefirst time after missing the first three games of the world championship whilerecovering from a sprained ankle. He had four points and four rebounds in 23minutes.
Primoz Brezec(notes) hit his first seven shots and scored 16 points to help theSlovenians take a 14-point halftime lead. A 3-pointer to open the second halfmade it a 17-point game, but Brazil began chipping away and pulled within 70-68on Tiago Splitter’s(notes) basket with 4:25 remaining.
Lakovic hit a 3 with 3:32 remaining, then nailed another about a minutelater to make it 76-68. Brazil got back within five in the final minute, butBostjan Nachbar(notes) hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 21 seconds to play to helpthe Slovenians pull it out.
Nachbar finished with 15 points and Goran Dragic(notes) of the Phoenix Suns had 10for Slovenia, which shot 57 percent from the field.
Marcelo Machado scored 20 points and Splitter added 19 for Brazil. LeandroBarbosa(notes) shot just 6 of 18 and had 12.
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