Agence France Presse (AFP)

11/18/2011 | 01:42 AM

PARIS – Dallas Mavericks’ German power forward Dirk Nowitzki, MVP in the Mavericks’ NBA finals triumph in June, is not ruling out the possibility of a move to Europe if the current NBA lock-out continues.

“This week we are going back to work, Dirk has not touched the ball since the European Championship at the end of September,” declared Nowitzki’s personal coach Holger Geschwindner, who also said the player was “ruling nothing out, even if he has no concrete ideas” about a switch to Europe.

“At the moment, Dirk is out of shape. We are going to work hard over the next two weeks,” added Geschwindner.

“If he goes anywhere, he will be going there for the whole season.”

However, Nowitzki’s mentor has not yet abandoned all hope of the NBA season eventually getting underway.

“There is still a small chance of a breakthrough in the negotiations with the NBA. If not, we will have to find an alternative solution,” he admitted.

A number of European clubs, particularly in Germany, have already sounded out the 33-year-old.

“We have to keep all options open and keep an eye on what’s happening abroad,” Nowitzki said at the end of October.

“If the lock-out continues, it is something I will really have to think about.”

The failure of owners and players to agree upon a new collective bargaining agreement is responsible for the ongoing NBA lock-out. — AFP

Agence France Presse (AFP)

11/18/2011 | 01:42 AM

PARIS – Dallas Mavericks’ German power forward Dirk Nowitzki, MVP in the Mavericks’ NBA finals triumph in June, is not ruling out the possibility of a move to Europe if the current NBA lock-out continues.

“This week we are going back to work, Dirk has not touched the ball since the European Championship at the end of September,” declared Nowitzki’s personal coach Holger Geschwindner, who also said the player was “ruling nothing out, even if he has no concrete ideas” about a switch to Europe.

“At the moment, Dirk is out of shape. We are going to work hard over the next two weeks,” added Geschwindner.

“If he goes anywhere, he will be going there for the whole season.”

However, Nowitzki’s mentor has not yet abandoned all hope of the NBA season eventually getting underway.

“There is still a small chance of a breakthrough in the negotiations with the NBA. If not, we will have to find an alternative solution,” he admitted.

A number of European clubs, particularly in Germany, have already sounded out the 33-year-old.

“We have to keep all options open and keep an eye on what’s happening abroad,” Nowitzki said at the end of October.

“If the lock-out continues, it is something I will really have to think about.”

The failure of owners and players to agree upon a new collective bargaining agreement is responsible for the ongoing NBA lock-out. — AFP

VILNIUS — With his team on the brink of elimination, NBA star Dirk Nowitzki came through for Germany.

The Dallas Mavericks forward made four free throws in the last 19 seconds and Germany remained in contention at the FIBA European Championship by edging Turkey 73-67 on Friday.

“Sometimes it’s not always the most beautiful basketball. We only scored six points in the first quarter but the good thing was that the defense was good. We had only given up 13,” Nowitzki said after scoring 19 for Germany, 13 of them in the second half.

Germany trailed 26-23 at halftime but came up with some big points down the stretch to claim the win it needed so desperately.

“We talked at halftime about how it was one of the worst halves that we have ever played. But we were still only down three points,” Nowitzki said.

“We saw everything positively, and in the second half we really played as a team and hit some important shots. It was good enough.”

Chris Kaman, the Los Angeles Clippers center, led Germany with 20 points. He and Nowitzki had seven rebounds each.

Chicago Bulls backup center Omer Asik, coming back from a broken left fibula, led Turkey with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Nowitzki, the MVP of the NBA Finals after taking the Mavericks past the Miami Heat for the title, is trying to take Germany to its second straight Olympics.

The two finalists from this tournament will qualify for next year’s games in London, while the next four teams will go to an additional qualifying tournament.

Germany’s progress to the quarterfinals here will depend on other results.

“We overcame the first hurdle and now we have to see what the other teams do. I hope that we can have a bit of a final on Sunday and that the place is packed,” Nowitzki said.

Spain, the defending champion, has no such worries after making the last eight with a dominant performance from the Gasol brothers in a 84-59 tour over Serbia.

Guard Nando de Colo had 13 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, along with three steals, to lead France to a 73-67 win over host Lithuania.

Unbeaten France will play Spain for first place in Group E on Sunday.

Germany has to beat Lithuania and hope for Turkey to defeat Serbia to advance. Lithuania’s win would leave Serbia or Turkey as the fourth team to progress.

Lithuania can’t lose big or it can also be eliminated in a three-way tie. Turkey advances if it beats Serbia and Germany loses to Lithuania.

The Gasol brothers combined for 46 points and 18 rebounds for Spain.

The pair dominated in the paint, scoring 42 of their points from close range. In one stretch in the second quarter, Pau Gasol scored seven points and Marc Gasol added four in an 11-0 run.

Spain led by as many as 29 at one point.

“To hold a team that’s been scoring 80 to under 60 is a great achievement,” Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said. “We came in with great concentration and immediately established our high-tempo game. We are still not shooting that great, that’s the only problem.”

Serbia, which was led by Nenad Krstic’s 12 points, has lost three straight games but can still advance if it beats Turkey in its final Group E game. Turkey is the only team to have beaten Spain at this year’s tournament.

Spain beat Serbia in the European final two years ago, but then lost to the Serbs in the world championship quarterfinals last year.

Dirk Nowitzki, left, scored 13 of his 19 points against Turkey in the second half. (Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images)

With his team on the brink of elimination, Dirk Nowitzki delivered for Germany.

The Dallas Mavericks star made four free throws in the last 19 seconds, helping Germany beat Turkey 73-67 to stay alive at the European Championship in Lithuania.

“Sometimes it’s not always the most beautiful basketball,” said Nowitzki, who scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half. “We only scored six points in the first quarter, but the good thing was that the defence was good.”

Defending champion Spain reached the quarter-finals, routing Serbia 84-59 behind the dominant play of brothers Pau and Marc Gasol.

France downed host Lithuania 73-67, with Nando de Colo scoring 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. Tony Parker added 19 points for unbeaten France and Joakim Noah had 13 rebounds. France will play Spain for first place in Group E on Sunday.

Germany trailed 26-23 at halftime before regrouping.

“We talked at halftime about how it was one of the worst halves that we have ever played. But we were still only down three points,” Nowitzki said. “We saw everything positively, and in the second half we really played as a team and hit some important shots. It was good enough.”

Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman had 20 points for Germany. He and Nowitzki had seven rebounds each. Chicago Bulls backup centre Omer Asik, coming back from a broken lower left leg, led Turkey with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Nowitzki, the MVP of the NBA finals after taking the Mavericks past Miami for the title, is trying to take Germany to its second straight Olympics. The two finalists from this tournament will qualify for next year’s London Games. The next four teams will go to an additional qualifying tournament.

Germany will need help from others to make the quarter-finals.

“We overcame the first hurdle and now we have to see what the other teams do,” Nowitzki said. “I hope that we can have a bit of a final on Sunday and that the place is packed.”

Germany must beat Lithuania and hope for Turkey to defeat Serbia. Lithuania’s win would leave Serbia or Turkey as the fourth team to progress. Lithuania can’t lose big or it can also be eliminated in a three-way tie. Turkey advances if it beats Serbia and Germany loses to Lithuania.

Spain again rode the strength of the Gasols. Pau Gasol had 26 points and younger brother Marc had 20 to go with 10 rebounds. In one stretch in the second quarter, Pau Gasol scored seven points and Marc Gasol added four in an 11-0 run. Spain led by as many as 29.

“To hold a team that’s been scoring 80 to under 60 is a great achievement,” Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said. “We came in with great concentration and immediately established our high-tempo game. We are still not shooting that great, that’s the only problem.”

Serbia, led by Nenad Krstic’s 12 points, has lost three straight matches but can still advance if it beats Turkey in its final Group E game. Turkey is the only team to have beaten Spain at this year’s tournament.

Spain beat Serbia in the European final two years ago, but then lost to the Serbs in the world championship quarter-finals last year. This time, it wasn’t a contest.

“They hurt us very badly and we didn’t defend as usual,” Serbia guard Stefan Markovic said. “Now we have to focus on the last game.”

All 12 of Spain’s players scored. Serbia was without guard Aleksandar Rasic because of a back problem. Milos Teodosic, the Serbia guard whose 3-pointer at the buzzer beat Spain at the worlds last year, was held to six points.

“We wanted to stop Teodosic and we did it,” Spain guard Jose Calderon said.