Intro:

Tony Parker scored 27 points as France defeated hosts Slovenia 72-62 in the quarter-finals of EuroBasket 2013 in Ljubljana.

Script:

The second quarter-final at the European Championships was a hard-fought battle between France and Slovenia.

'Les Bleus' have one of the most talented squads on display at the tournament.

But the Dragic brothers - Goran and Zoric - ensured that the Slovenian back-court was also strong.

The star performer? Unsurprisingly, that was Tony Parker of France.

The San Antonio Spurs' point guard hit a game-high 27 points.

France went on a 10-0 run at the start of the third quarter - that proved critical.

But Slovenia cut the deficit to five when Domen Lorbek fired a 3-pointer at the buzzer of the third quarter scored again at the start of the fourth.

But Parker scored with a jumper and Nando de Colo's lay-up restored the10-point lead with just under six minutes left.

Goran Dragic, who finished with 18 points, made two free throws to leave his team seven behind with just seconds remaining.

Parker had two turnovers late in the game but he cut inside to score with a lay-up and made one of two free throws to make it a 10-point game again.

It finished 72-62 - the French progress to the last four and a meeting with defending champions Spain.