Russia's Andrei Kirilenko has been throwing punches at Serbia & Montenegro all week but none of them took the wind out of the European champions like the ones he landed on Friday night in the opening game of Eurobasket 2003 for both sides.

The versatile big man, who virtually dismissed the world and European champions' chances of defending their European crown in an interview with his country's Sport Express newspaper, burned them for 29 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked an amazing six shots as Russia pulled away in the second half for a 95-80 triumph.

Russia led 47-45 at half-time but extended that advantage to seven points after three and then finished with a comfortable win.

Having drawn criticism after misfiring from three-point land during the Efes Pilsen World Cup II tournament in the warmup for the championships, Kirilenko made a mockery of the second-guessing by draining three of five from long range.

He also made Serbia & Montenegro pay for fouling him, converting 75% (12-16) of his shots from the charity stripe.

Kirilenko said this week that Serbia & Montenegro were a weaker side from the one that won last summer's World Championships without Dejan Bodiroga, Dejan Tomasevic and Vlade Divac.

That trio of players contributed to the final win over Argentina in Indianapolis but made themselves unavailable for this tournament.

Kirilenko appeared to be off the mark in his assessment of Predrag Drobjnak, however, as the centre scored 18 points.

Serbia & Montenegro's biggest star, Sacramento Kings small forward Predrag Stojakovic, had a bad night despite scoring 17 points.

He made only five of 21 shots overall and was two of seven from three-point land.

The good news for the wounded champions is that they are likely to advance to the next phase of the tournament since hosts Sweden are in their group.

The bad news for the rest of the field is that Kirilenko is in Scandinavia and looking like a world beater.

Slovenia, who were in Russia's qualifying group for the Eurobasket, beat Italy 77-67 at the Coop Arena in Lulea in Group A.

Bostjan Nachbar led all scorers with 21 points.

The Azzurri, champions four years ago, hurt themselves at the free throw line, making 19 of 30 on the night, and from three-point range where they were a meagre four of 20.

Slovenia also outrebounded Italy 33-20 in the game.

Dirk Nowitzki played and Germany won their group B clash against Israel, 87-81.

Nowitzki, who sprained his ankle last week in the German Supercup game against France, was not 100% but he still managed to play 35 minutes and score 17 points, as did team-mate Ademola Okulaja.

Germany shot the ball well, making six of 12 from behind the arc.

The other Group B game of the day saw Lithuania, the Olympic bronze medallists, get a scare in their Baltics showdown with Latvia before scraping an 92-91 overtime win at the Himmelstalundshallen.

In Group D, Turkey trailed by 10 at the halfway point but hit back in the second half for a 77-69 win against Ukraine in Boras.

Mehmet Okur led the way for the winners with 19 points.