Brazil stage a final quarter comeback to steal a 88-82 victory over Spain - Olympics Men Basketball Recap
The Brazilian men basketball team staged a huge comeback in the final period to down European giants Spain at the London Olympics.
The Brazilian side outscored Spain 31-16 in the last 10 minutes to clinch the victory. Leandrinho Barbosa scored a team high 23 points for Brazil, going 8 of 13 from the field and 5 of 6 from the foul line.
Pau Gasol led the Spaniards in scoring with a game high 25 points and 7 rebounds, scoring a near perfect 9 of 11 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free throw line.
Spain started the game red hot from the floor and got into rhythm early. Brazil attempted to stay close in the early going but Spain soon ran away with the lead, owing to their brilliant shooting. Pau Gasol scored 4 straight points
to put Spain ahead 18-11. Ibaka later scored 4 consecutive points and Juan-Carlos Navarro ended the period with two free throws as Spain took a 26-17 lead going into the 2nd period.
Brazil attempted a comeback early on in the 2nd quarter, and a two point shot by Guilherme Giovannoni had the Spanish lead down to 30-25. Giovannoni later hit a three pointer to bring Brazil within 3 points of the Spaniards,
as they gained their rhythm in the game.
Spain however ended the period on a high note, with a 7-3 run capped off by a deuce by Marc Gasol will 11 seconds left to take a 44-38 lead going into the half time break.
Both teams fought hard for the lead in the third period, but Spain were able to resist a Brazilian assault and hold on to the lead. Serge Ibaka scored a two point shot to put Spain ahead 59-49 with 4 minutes left in the period.
Ibaka later hit another two pointer to make the score 64-55. Both teams entered the final period with Spain leading 66-57.
After trying to play catch up with the Spaniards for much of three quarters, the Brazilian side came out charging and motivated in the final period. Back to back three pointers by Marcus Vieira in the opening minute of the game
had the Spanish lead down to 4 points, and a two point shot later by Tiago Splitter had Brazil trailing by just 70-67 with 6:48 left in regulation.
Barbosa scored on two free throws attempts and followed that with a clutch three pointer to have Brazil trailing 72-73. Another 3 pointer by Barbosa capped off 8 consecutive points for the Brazilian star, and gave the South Americans
a 75-73 lead. Barbosa then scored a two point shot and Anderson Varejao followed that with a two pointer to put Brazil up 84-76, as the Spaniard suddenly seemed unable to make anything happen on the offensive end.
Marc Gasol scored three consecutive free throws but Brazil responded with a two points shot by Larry Taylor and sealed the fate of the game there and then. Brazil eventually won 88-82.
Marc Gasol finished with 20 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, while Serge Ibaka had 14 points and 6 rebounds for the night. Vieira added 13 points for Brazil and Tiago Splitter finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
Both teams shot exceptionally well, above 50%, from the field. Brazil, however, went 10 of 17 from the foul line where as Spain scored on 20 of 27 opportunities.
The win puts Brazil in 2nd position behind Russia in Group B with 9 points from 5 games. Spain are in third position.
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