Team USA rallies to beat Turkey at Basketball World Cup
Basketball: Kenneth Faried scored 22 points, Anthony Davis all of his 19 in the second half, and the U.S. rebounded from a rare deficit at halftime to beat Turkey 98-77 on Sunday in the Basketball World Cup in Bilbao, Spain.
A night after beating Finland by 59 in its biggest rout ever while using NBA players in the former world championship, the Americans couldn’t take control against Turkey until early in the fourth quarter.
They trailed 40-35 at halftime and Turkey led by six early in the third before the Americans could finally get the game into the quicker tempo they prefer and pull away to win the rematch of the 2010 gold-medal game in Istanbul.
But it was a much tougher one than expected after the Americans hammered Finland 114-55 while Turkey was being outplayed for most of its opener by New Zealand before pulling out the victory.
• Lynx stay alive: Maya Moore scored 13 of her 32 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Lynx avoided elimination by beating the Phoenix Mercury 82-77 in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in Minneapolis.
Diana Taurasi scored 23 for the Mercury, who will host Game 3 on Tuesday night. The Lynx are three-time defending Western Conference champions.
Toronto fires Nelsen
Miscellany: Toronto FC fired manager Ryan Nelsen.
Greg Vanney, head of TFC Academy, was selected as Nelsen’s replacement.
Nelsen and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko were reportedly at odds with the rookie GM flexing his muscle in the wake of news that Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) CEO Tim Leiweke, a champion of Nelsen and the team, is planning to leave. The soccer club is one of MLSE’s sports franchises.
• Quintana takes lead in Spain: Nairo Quintana took the overall lead of the Spanish Vuelta from Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde on a rainy and mountainous ninth stage of 115 miles won by Winner Anacona of Colombia.
• Walsh Jennings wins 122nd beach volleyball title: Kerri Walsh Jennings, who is the women’s career leader in professional beach volleyball wins, moved into a tie for third place in all-time overall victories.
Her win at the AVP Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio with partner April Ross was Walsh Jennings’ 122nd tournament title, tying her with Randy Stoklos and leaving her behind only Sinjin Smith (139 wins) and Karch Kiraly (148).
Walsh Jennings and Ross beat second-seeded Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat, 21-14, 21-15.
• Marquez slips past Lorenzo: MotoGP world championship leader Marc Marquez held off Jorge Lorenzo in a back-and-forth battle from start to finish to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The 21-year-old Marquez on his Repsol Honda started the race from the pole position, but dropped into second on the opening lap as Movistar Yamaha’s Lorenzo took charge.
The lead changed hands between the duo several times after Marquez went in front with seven laps to go.