TURKEY BOUND – Greece’s Bourousis back with a vengeance as Reds rout Efes Pilsen

ATHENS (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Greece's Ioannis Bourousis returned to the line-up for the first time since picking up a leg injury at Unicaja Malaga two weeks ago and led Olympiacos to victory at home against Efes Pilsen on Thursday night.

The 2.10m center, who turns 26 next week, was nearly perfect shooting the ball and scored 23 points in the Reds' 105-90 Euroleague win.

Bourousis was six of six from the floor, which included makes on both of his attempts from long range, and made nine of 10 shots at the free-throw line.

Olympiacos trailed 48-46 at half-time with 7,200 fans looking on inside the Peace and Friendship Stadium, but then turned on the style in the second half.

"Personally, I felt eager to contribute after my injury," said Bourousis, who will play for Greece next year at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

"I felt comfortable on the floor and gave as much energy as I could."

Others who could be headed to Turkey for the big event were also in action on Thursday night in the Euroleague and the NBA.

Croatia

• Nikola Vujcic - The Olympiacos big man scored 10 points, hauled in four boards, handed out five assists and came up with two steals.
• Mario Kasun - The Croatia center scored 15 points and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for Efes Pilsen.

Greece

• Panagiotis Vasilopoulos - The versatile forward scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds and came up with two steals for Olympiacos.
• Sofoklis Schortsanitis - The Greece center scored 11 points and snared four rebounds for Olympiacos.

Lithuania

• Linas Kleiza - The explosive shooting guard/small forward poured in 20 points and hauled in 11 rebounds for Olympiacos. Kleiza will play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship if Lithuania receive a wild card.
• Martynas Gecevicius - A star player in Lithuania's side at the U20 European Championship last year, Gecevicius could be in the senior team next year if they get a wild card. He had 19 points, five assists and two steals for Lietuvos Rytas in their 78-56 rout of visiting Partizan Belgrade in the Euroleague.

Serbia

• Milos Teodosic - The Serbia point guard played almost 28 minutes and had seven assists and two steals to go with his six points for Olympiacos.

Slovenia

• Bostjan Nachbar - The Efes Pilsen swingman scored 10 points and corralled six rebounds but turned the ball over six times.

Spain

• Carlos Cabezas – The Spain national team reserve point guard poured in 12 points, dished out three assists and came up with a steal as Khimki Moscow Region claimed a vital 72-68 road triumph at Armani Jeans Milano in the Euroleague.

Team USA

• LeBron James – The Cleveland Cavaliers ace scored 34 points and had seven helpers in the Cavs’ 111-104 win at Miami.
• Dwyane Wade – The Miami guard had 36 points, five assists and two blocks in the Heat’s loss to Cleveland.
• Kobe Bryant – The Los Angeles Lakers talisman led the way with 29 points in a 121-102 victory over Phoenix.

Turkey

• Kerem Tunceri - The Turkey guard scored 13 points and dished out four assists for Efes Pilsen.

FIBA