Pau Gasol drops 40 as Spain stuns France in OT at EuroBasket semifinals
Pau, right in the kisser.
Heading into Thursday's semifinal matchup with undefeated France as the four-point underdogs, Spain - which has proven to be an inconsistent bunch throughout the EuroBasket tournament - appeared to be vulnerable enough for Tony Parker and company to pounce on.
But Pau Gasol, the tournament's leading scorer with 23.6 points per game, wasn't going down without a fight. The 35-year-old scored 40 points on 12-of-21 shooting to lead Spain to an all-important 80-75 overtime win in front of a raucous French fan base.
This victory pushes Spain through to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while France will need to take its chances in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament next summer.
Spain go to the #EuroBasket2015 Final! @paugasol powers them with an absolute superstar 40-points performance! pic.twitter.com/EJWLq0eWPO
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 17, 2015
In qualifying for next year's Olympics, Spain joins Brazil (host), United States (2014 World Cup), Australia (Oceania), Nigeria (AfroBasket), Venezuela (Americas), and Argentina (Americas). Lithuania and Serbia will play in the second semifinal matchup Friday to determine the other Olympic qualifier from EuroBasket.
With less NBA star power than the French side, the Spaniards leaned heavily on Gasol, who contributed half of his team's points. The Chicago Bulls forward also chipped in 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in 36 minutes of action.
Gasol took the heat right at French center Rudy Gobert, who finished with a solid line of eight points and 13 rebounds, although he fouled out in the closing moments. Gobert's length poses problems for even the most skilled post players, yet Gasol appeared unfazed during their battles around the basket.
.@PauGasol v @RudyGobert27: great fight under the basket! #ESPFRA #EuroBasket2015 pic.twitter.com/IP22MukuLb
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 17, 2015
France's Nicolas Batum had a chance to tie the game with 15 seconds left after getting fouled on an attempted 3-pointer in overtime, but the Charlotte Hornets forward botched all three free throws. France didn't foul Spain with the game clock winding down, giving Gasol an opening to jam home an uncontested dunk, sealing the victory.
Spain's Sergio Rodriguez was the only other Spanish player to score in double figures, dropping 15 points in 29 minutes. Batum and guard Nando De Colo each had 14 for France, while Parker struggled to shoot the rock, missing 13 of his 17 field goal attempts for just 10 points.