Tony Parker scored 16 as France held off Poland 74-66 in a Group D match in Alicante, while Andrei Kirilenko's 24 points and 12 rebounds led Russia over Group A rival Serbia 73-65 in Granada.

In a Group B match in Seville, Latvia surprised Croatia 85-77.

Later today, Greece opened its title defense against Israel, world champion Spain played EuroBasket rookie Portugal, Turkey faced Lithuania and Olympic silver medallist Italy played Slovenia.

At Palma de Mallorca, Nowitzki scored 19 second-half points and four more in overtime as Germany rallied from an early deficit in their Group C game.

The Czechs led 31-25 at halftime thanks to 10 points from to forward Lubos Barton.

But the Germans rallied in the second half behind Nowitzki, who hit a pair of free throws at the end of the third quarter to give his side the lead for the first time 46-44, and connected on a turnaround jumper from the top of the key to put Germany ahead 72-68 with 51 seconds remaining in regulation.

A jumper by the Czechs' Jakub Houska and a layup by Jiri Welsch had the Czechs within 73-72 with 20 seconds remaining. Mithat Demirel made the first of two foul shots four seconds later, but Ladislav Sokolovsky sank both free throws to tie the game 74-74 before Demirel missed a last-second shot.

Shortly after Demirel made one of two free throws, Nowitzki hit his second field goal in overtime to put Germany ahead 79-76 with 49 seconds to go. Houska dunked after a Barton miss to pull the Czechs within one with 29 seconds remaining, but another pair of Demirel free throws and a dunk by Demond Greene decided the game as the Czechs didn't get another shot until 3 seconds were left.

At Granada, Andrei Kirilenko scored 16 in the second half and Russia held off a Serbian side that shot only 33 percent from the field.

Russia watched a 16-point first-half lead shrink to six before Nikita Morgunov's jumper at the halftime horn ended a 15-5 Serbian run.

Milenko Tepic missed a three-point attempt with 1:59 to go in the third that would have put Serbia ahead, and Kirilenko completed a three-point play on the ensuing possession to stretch Russia's lead to 51-46. Servia closed within three points only once more, 51-48, and Russia slowly pulled away with Morgunov sinking a three-pointer to hike the lead to 10 with 1:02 remaining.

France shot 42 percent from the field and had four players score in double figures.

Leading 13-12, Boris Diaw hit a 3-pointer then Parker connected on a layup and two subsequent free throws as France pushed ahead for good.

In Seville, fans laid flowers and lit candles outside the San Pablo Municipal Stadium for Sevilla FC midfielder Antonio Puerta, who died Tuesday after he collapsed during a Spanish league soccer match and had several subsequent heart attacks.

Inside, Latvia center Andris Biedrins had a team-high 14 and four teammates also scored in double figures against Croatia.