Spain posts 1st win despite security scare
Spain posts 1st win despite security scare
August 13, 2016 | 12:00 AM
Spain's Pau Gasol (4) shoots over Nigeria's Ekene Ibekwe, left, during a basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. — AP
August 13, 2016 | 12:00 AM
Last Updated: August 13, 2016 | 12:00 AM
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Spain's Pau Gasol (4) shoots over Nigeria's Ekene Ibekwe, left, during a basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. — AP[/caption]RIO DE JANEIRO — Spain tipped off in an eerily empty arena due to a security scare but the 2012 silver medalists finally showed up on the court for an all-important first Olympic basketball win Thursday.
After last-second losses in its first two games, Spain claimed a 96-87 win over Nigeria in a match-up of winless teams desperate for a “W,” led by 16 points from veteran centre Pau Gasol.
In other Group B action, Argentina and Lithuania showed why they will both be tough to beat in the knockout phase, with Lithuania emerging 81-73 victors in one of the better-played contests so far.
Forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas led Lithuania with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
Spain and Nigeria tipped off with the 16,000-capacity venue in Rio’s Olympic Park virtually empty after security forces initially prevented fans entering while they staged an apparent controlled explosion just outside.
“We heard the explosion. We didn’t know exactly what it was. We just kind of looked around and said, ‘What’s going on?’” said Gasol.
“We thought maybe nobody came to watch the game.”
Spain is ranked No. 2 in the world and was bridesmaid in the past two Games to the powerful US squad of NBA stars.
Spain is now 1-2 and still must face both the tough Argentines and Lithuania in its remaining preliminary-round games. Nigeria dropped to 0-3.
In the day’s early game, Bojan Bogdanovic poured in 33 points as Croatia beat hosts Brazil 80-76, which was hoping to build on its thrilling upset of Spain two days earlier.
Croatia is now 2-1, and Brazil 1-2.
In the women’s section, Liz Cambage scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Australia rallied from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Japan 92-86 and clinch the top spot in Group A.
Japan looked like it might join France as the only team to beat the Aussies (4-0) in the Olympics since 1996 other than the US. The Japanese used their speed and athleticism to get good looks at the basket against Australia, shooting 59 percent to take a 50-48 halftime lead.
Spain's Pau Gasol (4) shoots over Nigeria's Ekene Ibekwe, left, during a basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. — AP[/caption]RIO DE JANEIRO — Spain tipped off in an eerily empty arena due to a security scare but the 2012 silver medalists finally showed up on the court for an all-important first Olympic basketball win Thursday.
After last-second losses in its first two games, Spain claimed a 96-87 win over Nigeria in a match-up of winless teams desperate for a “W,” led by 16 points from veteran centre Pau Gasol.
In other Group B action, Argentina and Lithuania showed why they will both be tough to beat in the knockout phase, with Lithuania emerging 81-73 victors in one of the better-played contests so far.
Forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas led Lithuania with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
Spain and Nigeria tipped off with the 16,000-capacity venue in Rio’s Olympic Park virtually empty after security forces initially prevented fans entering while they staged an apparent controlled explosion just outside.
“We heard the explosion. We didn’t know exactly what it was. We just kind of looked around and said, ‘What’s going on?’” said Gasol.
“We thought maybe nobody came to watch the game.”
Spain is ranked No. 2 in the world and was bridesmaid in the past two Games to the powerful US squad of NBA stars.
Spain is now 1-2 and still must face both the tough Argentines and Lithuania in its remaining preliminary-round games. Nigeria dropped to 0-3.
In the day’s early game, Bojan Bogdanovic poured in 33 points as Croatia beat hosts Brazil 80-76, which was hoping to build on its thrilling upset of Spain two days earlier.
Croatia is now 2-1, and Brazil 1-2.
In the women’s section, Liz Cambage scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Australia rallied from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Japan 92-86 and clinch the top spot in Group A.
Japan looked like it might join France as the only team to beat the Aussies (4-0) in the Olympics since 1996 other than the US. The Japanese used their speed and athleticism to get good looks at the basket against Australia, shooting 59 percent to take a 50-48 halftime lead.
