Tony Parker scores 18, France advances to EuroBasket semifinals

Tony Parker scored 18 points to pace defending champion France to an 84-70 victory over Latvia and set up a showdown with Spain in the semifinals of the European basketball championship.

France took the title away from Spain two years ago in Slovenia when it beat the Spaniards in the semis before defeating Lithuania in the final.

Parker scored nine points in a row at the end of the second quarter and inspired France in the third as it pulled away.