Tony Parker scored 28 points on Sunday to lead France past Ukraine 77-71 and into round two of the European basketball championship in Slovenia.
Finland edged Russia 86-83 in double overtime to also advance. Finland trailed in regulation and first overtime but tied it late both times to remain in the game, before eliminating the Russians - bronze medallists at the London Olympics.
Ukraine stayed with France until the fourth quarter, when Parker took over. The San Antonio Spurs star connected with two jumpers and then sank a three-pointer to help France pull away. Parker scored 13 of his team's last 17 points. France were runners-up two years ago.
"We kept fighting and, in the fourth quarter, we found the solutions," Parker said after his 50th European championship game. "I try to lead the team and to help the young players. When you are playing must-win games, you have to be disciplined, serious. We'll raise our level in the second round."
Pooh Jeter finished with 20 points for Ukraine, who are on the verge of qualifying.
In Celje, Jan Vesely had 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Czech Republic in a 95-79 victory over Georgia who are eliminated.
In Jesenice, Serbia beat Latvia 80-71 via 25 points from centre Nenad Krstic to advance, while Italy stayed perfect after four games with a 81-72 victory over previously unbeaten Greece. Both teams joined Finland in advancing from that group.
Captain Krstic said his team dedicated the victory to 18-year-old Serbian women's basketball player Natasa Kovacevic, who had a leg amputated after a bus carrying her Hungarian team crashed on Saturday.
"We are all affected by this tragedy and she was in our thoughts tonight," Krstic said.
Ricky Rubio and Marc Gasol scored 15 points apiece to lead defending champions Spain to a 89-53 victory over winless Poland in Celje.
Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Macedonia 62-54 and Britain eliminated Germany 81-73.
Bosnia are 2-2 while Macedonia fall to 1-3 as the semi-finalists from two years ago are close to being knocked out. The top three teams from each group advance.
In Ljubljana, Devon van Oostrum's three-pointer with 50 seconds left gave Britain a seven-point lead and secured the victory.
Britain, still not certain to advance, had 23 points from Andrew Lawrence and 21 points and 11 rebounds from Myles Hesson and are 2-2.
