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Italy downs Israel despite hobbled Bargnani, Belinelli; EuroBasket quarterfinals next

Benoit Tessier / REUTERS

Italy defeated Israel in its 2015 EuroBasket Round of 16 head-to-head on Sunday.

Alessandro Gentile - who had been averaging 16 points heading into the game - hit 66.7 percent of his field goal attempts en route to a 27-point performance.

Only one other Italian scored in double figures - Sacramento Kings guard Marco Belinelli with 14 points - as most of the Israeli players struggled to get going.

Kings forward Omri Casspi contributed eight points and six rebounds, however his efforts were insufficient as former Dallas Mavericks reserve guard Gal Mekel shouldered the offensive load with 20 points of his own.

Despite the key victory, the Italian squad did not leave the arena - in Lille, France - unscathed.

Belinelli - who had been ailing with leg hematoma prior to Sunday's match - was able to suit up for the "win or go home" scenario.

Andrea Bargnani - one of the Brooklyn Nets' newest members - went down with an apparent calf injury - finishing the game with seven points and three rebounds.

While this particular injury has been a recurring one for the 7-footer, it is currently unknown if he will be ready for Italy's next game versus the winner of the Lithuania-Georgia game.

The final score of the game was 82-52.

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