Spain are in danger of not getting out of EuroBasket Group C after losing 67-63 to Italy on Tuesday, but the defending champions still control their destiny.
Marco Spissu put Italy in front for good at 64-63 with two free throws with 31 seconds left and made two more with 14 seconds remaining. Giampaolo Ricci converted one of two free throws with eight seconds on the clock.
Spain, which in 2022 won their fourth title, are tied with Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 2-2 each. Greece and Italy have clinched two of the group’s four spots in the round-of-16, but Georgia plays Bosnia and Herzegovina today, so if Spain defeat Greece on the same day, the Spaniards would advance.
Photo: AFP
The knockout phase is to be in Riga from Saturday to Sept. 14. Spain beat France 88-76 in the 2022 final.
Mouhamet Diouf led a balanced Italian attack with 14 points, Ricci added 11 points, and Saliou Niang had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Niang in the second round this year.
Santi Aldama, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, led Spain with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Sergio de Larrea scored 15 points.
Deni Avdija led the way with 22 points as Israel reached the knockout stage with a 92-89 win over Belgium, when Slovenia and France also advanced. Poland are also into the next round from Group D.
Luka Doncic scored 26 points as Slovenia overcame Iceland 87-79 to reach the last 16, qualifying France along the way. The Los Angeles Lakers star was just two of 10 from three-point range.
Avdija, a Portland Trail Blazers forward, scored 23 points on Sunday when Israel stunned Paris Olympics silver medalists France 82-69. This time, Maccabi Tel Aviv center Roman Sorkin backed him up with 18 points.
Israel led by 21 points at one stage in the Polish city of Katowice before Belgium closed the gap.
With four seconds left, Yam Madar sank two free throws to give Israel a 92-87 lead and ensure a tense victory that put Israel provisionally top of Group D.
Loic Schwartz hit four three-pointers among his 14 points for Belgium.
Later on Tuesday in Group D, France faced cohosts Poland, while defending champions Spain played already-qualified Italy in Group C in the Cypriot city of Limassol.
Greece lost 80-77 to Bosnia and Herzegovina for their first Group C defeat.
The Greeks had already qualified for the last 16 and star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was rested in Limassol because of some knee discomfort.
Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis told Greek public broadcaster ERT that Antetokounmpo should be available to play against Spain today.
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic and John Roberson both had 18 points for Bosnia and Herzegovina, who improved to 2-2 in the group phase.
Georgia kept their qualifying chances alive with a 93-61 rout of cohosts Cyprus, who are winless. Barcelona forward Tornike Shengelia scored 27 points for Georgia, and Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze had 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Guerschon Yabusele made six of 12 three-pointers and scored 36 points to help France defeat Poland 83-76.
Yabusele, who started 43 games for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, also had six rebounds.
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