Gasol And Fernandez Lead Spain To Chance For Gold Beat Lithuania 91-86

Posted by Jeff Sack under Slam Dunk Olympics Central

Pau Gasol scored 19 points, and Rudy Fernandez scored 18 more, as the Spanish National team defeated Lithuania in the Beijing Olympics semi-final game 91-86. The victory advance Spain to the Gold Medal round on Sunday as they take on unbeaten Team USA for all the marbles. Lithuania will play Argentina for the Bronze.

This game went back and forth for three quarters before Spain pulled away in the fourth. Spain had a slim 21-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. Lithuania turned the tables in the second quarter and went into the locker room at the half ahead 42-40. The Lithuanians were still on top at the end of three quarters as they had a 66-62 advantage going into the final period. Fernandez who came out of the game in the third after knocking noggins with Lithuanian player Ksistof Lavrinovic came back into the contest in the fourth quarter, and he and Gasol led the team to the win.

Gasol led the Spanish squad with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, Fernadez scored 18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal in the win. Felipe Reyes scored 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, Carlos Jiminez scored 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal.

Sarunas Jasikevicius scored 19 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals. Simas Jasaitis came off the bench and scored 19 points, 8 boards, 2 assists, in the loss. Spain will face Team USA for the second time in the Beijing Games, having lost in their previous meeting 119-82.

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