SAITAMA, Japan — The European champions are playing for a much bigger prize.

The best the United States can hope for is yet another bronze medal.

Greece used a sizzling stretch of shooting across the middle two quarters to turn a 12-point deficit into a 14-point lead, and to beat the Americans 101-95 today in the semifinals of the world basketball championships.

The Greeks (8-0) can add a world title to the European championship they won in 2005 with a victory over either Spain or Argentina in Sunday's gold medal game.

Done in again by their inept 3-point shooting — and they weren't much better from the foul line — the Americans (7-1) will fall short of a championship in a major international tournament for the third straight time.

NEW YORK — Andre Agassi kept his final tournament going by beating eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 at the U.S. Open Thursday.They traded stinging strokes for nearly four hours, and it was the 21-year-old Baghdatis who broke down physically, his body contorted by cramps in both thighs during an eight-deuce, four-break-point game that Agassi eventually held to lead 5-4 in the fifth. Later, Baghdatis used the chair umpire's stand to stretch his aching legs.Martina Hingis exited the U.S. Open in the second round, losing 6-2, 6-4 to 112th-ranked Virginie Razzano of France in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.Maria Sharapova beat Emilie Loit 6-0, 6-1. Svetlana Kuznetsova beat 16-year-old Lauren Albanese of the United States 6-1, 6-1, while Justine Henin-Hardenne eliminated 17-year-old Vania King of the United States 6-1, 6-2.Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo had no trouble beating Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States 6-4, 6-3.

SAN DIEGO — David Wells was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Padres Thursday, who believe the free-spirited lefty will provide the lift they need as they contend for a postseason berth.The defending NL West champion Padres are trying to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in their history. The Red Sox are to receive a player to be named or cash.Wells has a history of postseason success. He's pitched in the playoffs 10 times for five clubs — Boston, the New York Yankees, Toronto, Cincinnati and Baltimore, with a career record of 10-4 with a 3.15 ERA.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins acquired first baseman Phil Nevin and cash from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named.The 35-year-old Nevin was already dealt once this season, moving from the Texas Rangers to the Cubs on May 31 for utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. Nevin was batting .274 with 12 homers and 33 RBIs in 179 at-bats for Chicago.