Italy overcame 27 points and 15 rebounds by Dirk Nowitzki to edge Germany 84-82 in overtime at the start of the European Championship on Friday.

Spain, playing without top star Pau Gasol, dominated reigning world champion Serbia-Montenegro 89-70 in a Group D match in Novi Sad behind 27 points from Juan Carlos Navarro.

Also in Group D, late qualifier Israel topped Latvia 74-65. In Group B in Podgorica, defending champion Lithuania beat Turkey 87-75, and Croatia edged Bulgaria 88-84, while in Group C in Belgrade, Slovenia defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 74-65, and Greece's defence stifled France 64-50.

In Vrsac, where Russia defeated Ukraine 86-74 in the late Group A game, Italy held Nowitzki scoreless in the first 12 minutes.