Lakers star Pau Gasol scored 19 points and had eight rebounds Monday to lead world champion Spain over Lithuania, 84-70, in the second round of the European basketball championship at Lodz, Poland.
With Spain trailing, 24-15, at the start of the second quarter, guard Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trail Blazers made a three-pointer to spark a 25-3 run over the next seven minutes that put Spain ahead, 40-27. The world champions continued to get out on the fastbreak, and led by 24 in the fourth quarter before pulling most of their starters.
"We played with a very good rhythm today," Gasol said. "We raised our level of intensity and were able to run and play our game. That's more the game that we've been so successful with."
Spain has not played at the level that produced a silver medal at last year's Beijing Olympics and the world title in 2006. The team lost its opening game to Serbia, then fell to Turkey in the first game of the second round.
Spain faces Poland in its final second-round game and is expected to reach the quarterfinals.
Blake Griffin has been cleared to participate in "all team activities" by the Clippers' team physician, Dr. Steven Shimoyama.
With training camp starting this month, there will be no limitations on Griffin's activity.
The No. 1 overall draft pick suffered a strained right shoulder during the Clippers' third game of the Las Vegas summer league but went on to be chosen the league's most outstanding player, averaging 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds.
-- Lisa Dillman
The Dallas Mavericks are keeping forward James Singleton and releasing guard Greg Buckner.
Singleton, a 6-foot-8 restricted free agent, showed his versatility by playing every position but point guard last season. He averaged 5.1 points and four rebounds per game, with six starts.
A 1998 draft pick who already has had two stints with the Mavericks, Buckner arrived as part of the four-team trade that brought Shawn Marion to Dallas in July.
BASEBALL
Rodney's penalty cut to two games
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Fernando Rodney's three-game suspension has been reduced to two games.
Rodney's suspension will continue through tonight's game against Kansas City.
Rodney was suspended for throwing a ball into the stands in frustration after he hung on for a save in a 4-3 win at Tampa Bay on Sept. 4. He appealed, and the penalty was decreased.
Rodney said he was also fined $3,000.
