SACRAMENTO (2010 FIBA World Championship) - The forgotten man of Spanish basketball, Sergio Rodriguez, finally got a chance to play for Sacramento on Tuesday night and had nine points and five assists in their 101-87 home defeat to the Chicago Bulls.

Rodriguez, an important player in his country's gold-medal triumph at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, also played for the national team at EuroBasket 2007 but a failure to impress with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers led to his exclusion from Spain's 2008 Olympic squad and this year's EuroBasket title-winning team.

After brief appearances in Sacramento triumphs over Utah and Golden State on November 7 and 8, Rodriguez failed to get off the bench in victories over Oklahoma City and Houston.

Coach Paul Westphal finally called his number on Tuesday, playing the Tenerife hoopster 20 minutes.

There were other notable performances from players who could be headed to the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

France

• Joakim Noah - The Chicago center had 15 points and 14 rebounds to help the Bulls beat the Kings.

Great Britain

• Luol Deng - The Bulls forward had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls. Deng will play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship if the Brits receive a wild card.

Brazil

• Nene - The Denver Nuggets center had 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 130-112 victory over Toronto.

Serbia

• Nenad Krstic - Serbia's captain scored 10 points and hauled in eight rebounds in Oklahoma City's 100-87 win at Miami.

Team USA

• LeBron James - King James poured in 32 points, handed out 12 assists and pulled down five boards while also swatting two shots in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 114-108 win over Golden State.
• Kobe Bryant - The Los Angeles Lakers ace scored 40 points in his team's 106-93 win over Detroit.
• Carmelo Anthony - The Nuggets scoring machine had a game-high 32 points in their triumph over Toronto.
• Kevin Durant - Team USA hopeful Durant led all scorers with 32 points in Oklahoma City's victory at Miami.

FIBA