Spain vs. Russia Olympic Basketball: Live Score, Stats & Recap
By on August 10, 2012
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Get ready for Round 2.
Just six days ago, the heavily favored Spaniards discovered their first taste of defeat to the upstart Russians. Led by 24 points from Vitaliy Fridzon, Russia overpowered Spain, outscoring them by a count of 27-9 from beyond the arc.
And this came in Andrei Kirilenko's worst game to date, as well as Pau Gasol's best.
This isn't group play, though. The stakes are high, as a spot in the gold-medal game is on the line. For Spain, this spells victory or failure. For Russia, this spells an opportunity that most basketball analysts did not see coming.
The question is, who will prevail? Which powerhouse will take the other down as they compete for an elusive Olympic hold medal? For those answers and more, check back at 12 p.m. EDT as Bleacher Report provides the best live coverage on the net!
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Final Score: Spain 67 - 59 Russia
Russia Team Leaders
Points: 14 - Alexandre Kaun
Rebounds: 7 - Andrei Kirilenko
Assists: 7 - Alexey Shved
Steals: 2 - Sergey Monya
Blocks: 3 - Andrei Kirilenko
Spain Team Leaders
Points: 16 - Pau Gasol
Rebounds: 12 - Pau Gasol
Assists: 3 - Jose Calderon & Juan Carlos Navarro
Steals: 1 - Six Tied
Blocks: 2 - Marc Gasol
Spain will advance to the Gold Medal game and either Team USA or Argentina will have a tough task ahead of them. The first half was miserable but momentum has been built!
Spain outscored the Russians by a score of 47-28 in the second half. They were led by 16 points and 12 rebounds from Pau Gasol, as well as 14 huge points from Jose Calderon; the game's MVP.
Russia saw 14 points from Sasha Kaun but both Andrei Kirilenko and Alexey Shved were dismal. They combined to shoot 3-of-16 from the floor while committing four costly turnovers and six fouls.
Spain struggled to get this win but the better team did prevail. What a turnaround.
End of the Game: Russia 59 - 67 Spain
Andrei Kirilenko has now missed three consecutive free throws. With them, Russia would have been down 5 with the ball.
He makes the fourth one after three high bounces off of the rim. Cracking under pressure doesn't do this performance justice as he's also shot 2-of-11 from the floor.
Spain now at the line and connecting on the freebies. Story of the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter, 45.7 remaining: Russia 59 - 67 Spain
Jose Calderon called for an unsportsmanlike foul. That's two free throws and the ball for Russia.
Unfortunately, Kirilenko misses both free throws. It doesn't get much worse than that for Russia.
Fourth Quarter, 57.7 remaining: Russia 58 - 66 Spain
When Andrei Kirilenko left the floor due to foul trouble, this game opened up. Scratch that, when the second half began, this game opened up.
Spain has outscored Russia 46-27 in the second half.
Fourth Quarter, 1:00 remaining: Russia 58 - 66 Spain
Marc Gasol uses a beautiful spin-dribble that leads to a bank shot for two. Although he got away with a double-dribble, that was a fun play to watch. This is perfect execution.
Fourth Quarter, 2:14 remaining: Russia 56 - 64 Spain
Yet another turnover by Russia and "flustered" doesn't do this situation justice. Pau Gasol is now back on the floor and Spain is looking to close this game out.
Fourth Quarter, 3:25 remaining: Russia 51 - 61 Spain
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Jose Calderon with another three-pointer! If you're looking for an MVP, look no further than the Toronto Raptors' point guard.
Russia follows that big shot with a turnover. Their fifth of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter, 4:30 remaining: Russia 50 - 58 Spain
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Andrei Kirilenko commits a big fourth foul and he will hit the bench, as five fouls is the International equivalent to fouling out.
Jose Calderon with another big three-pointer as he gives Spain their first lead since 7-4 during the first quarter! He has now tied the game at the end of the third and created a lead in the early minutes of the fourth.
Jose Calderon has been clutch! 9 of his 11 points in the second half.
Just after that, Calderon hits Sergio Llull for a transition two and Spain has a four-point lead! Wow!
Fourth Quarter, 6:46 remaining: Russia 49 - 53 Spain
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Anton Ponkrashov with a quick three points. Sergio Llull responds with two points and we've got ourself a battle.
Fourth Quarter, 7:45 remaining: Russia 49 - 48 Spain
After going 2-of-10 from distance in the first half, Spain came out firing in the third quarter by hitting 5-of-9 three-pointers. This led to their scoring 26 points in the quarter, which trumps their 20 total points in the first half.
Russia has seen solid contributions from Alexey Shved and Alexandre Kaun, but it just hasn't been enough. They failed to take advantage of a superior team shooting just 20.7 percent from the floor.
Who will step up in the fourth quarter? Hit the comments section and let us know!
Russia Team Leaders
Points: 10 - Alexandre Kaun
Rebounds: 6 - Andrei Kirilenko
Assists: 6 - Alexey Shved
Steals: 1 - Four Tied
Blocks: 2 - Andrei Kirilenko
Spain Team Leaders
Points: 14 - Pau Gasol
Rebounds: 11 - Pau Gasol
Assists: 3 - Juan Carlos Navarro
Steals: 1 - Rudy Fernandez & Juan Carlos Navarro
Blocks: 2 - Marc Gasol
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Jose Calderon with an NBA-range three and we're tied entering the fourth quarter! Talk about clutch!
End of the Third Quarter: Russia 46 - 46 Spain
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Spain has gone cold in the final two minutes but the fact that they've cut the game to just three points is huge. Their offense is firing on all cylinders as they've scored 23 points in the third quarter.
After scoring 20 through the entire first half.
Third Quarter, 22.8 remaining: Russia 46 - 43 Spain
Pau Gasol for another three!
And his misses. 1-4 for the game. Cherish the one you made and start playing intelligently.
Third Quarter, 1:18 remaining: Russia 46 - 43 Spain
Timofey Mozgov gets called for a backcourt violation but Spain is unable to tie the game after a missed three. Pau Gasol, however, scores on the other end and we have a one-point game!
Third Quarter, 1:45 remaining: Russia 44 - 43 Spain
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It took three attempts, but Pau Gasol has finally hit a three-pointer! He looks like he's on his last legs already, but appearances can be deceiving.
Spain is lighting it up with the three-ball and they have Russia on their heels.
Third Quarter, 2:48 remaining: Russia 44 - 41 Spain
Alexey Shved is beginning to flash that upside with great ball handling, smooth jump shooting and solid pick-and-roll abilities. Spain, meanwhile, is drawing fouls left and right and making the most of those opportunities.
Russia failed to put away a team who shot 20.7 percent for an entire half and scored just 20 points. Spain is in full control of this game and is on pace for a lopsided second half victory.
Timofey Mozgov, however, has something to say about that! The Denver Nuggets big man hits a mid-range jump shot.
Third Quarter, 3:39 remaining: Russia 44 - 38 Spain
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Spain has more points through four minutes than they did in the entire first quarter. They've matched the amount they scored in the second quarter.
Russia failed to make the most of, arguably, the worst half of basketball in Olympic history. Now it appears like it could come back to bite them.
Third Quarter, 5:44 remaining: Russia 40 - 31 Spain
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Russia has played phenomenal defense today, frustrating the Gasol Brothers and Serge Ibaka as nothing has come easy. They've pressured the Spaniards into turnovers and held them below 20 points until there was 1.8 seconds remaining.
Spain only reached 20 points because of a boneheaded foul by Andrei Kirilenko at the end of the half.
This may have been the worst half of basketball in Olympics history. Not only did Spain score 20 points for the entire half, but they have shot the ball 20.7 percent from the floor. That's 6-of-29 from the field and 2-of-10 from distance.
Find me a performance that is worse than this. I dare you.
End of the Second Quarter: Russia 31 - 20 Spain
Russia Team Leaders
Points: 9 - Sergei Monya
Rebounds: 5 - Viktor Khryapa
Assists: 4 - Alexey Shved
Steals: 1 - Three Tied
Blocks: 2 - Andrei Kirilenko
Spain Team Leaders
Points: 7 - Pau Gasol
Rebounds: 8 - Pau Gasol
Assists: 1 - Five Tied
Steals: N/A
Blocks: 2 - Marc Gasol
For Spain, this may qualify as the worst half of play in the history of Olympic Basketball. They have Pau Gasol at the line looking to bring them to 20 points for the HALF!
Russia has scored 19 in the second quarter.
Pau Gasol misses the first free throw and that will blow their chance at 20 for now. He makes the second.
Second Quarter, 57.6 remaining: Russia 31 - 19 Spain
Pau Gasol hits both of his free throws and Spain may eclipse 20 points for the half! Maybe...
Second Quarter, 1:28 remaining: Russia 31 - 18 Spain
Spain is shooting 20.7 percent from the floor.
Great shot in the Russian huddle.
As David Platt was outlining the offense, Alexey Shved and Anton Ponkrashov were talking to each other. Platt said "You two, stop talking!"
They did not. Platt then benched them.
Spain, meanwhile, has lost their advantage. Rudy Fernandez flops and... Gets called for the foul. About time.
Second Quarter, 2:35 remaining: Russia 27 - 16 Spain
Russia is tearing Spain's 1-3-1 zone apart right now as they've been on fire this quarter. After scoring 12 in the first quarter, they've put up 15 in just over 5 minutes during the second.
Those 15 points in the quarter are more than Spain has scored all game.
Second Quarter, 4:39 remaining: Russia 27 - 14 Spain
Russia is not afraid to sacrifice a foul for points, as they'll get physical with the Gasol Brothers before they allow an easy two. With the Spanish bigs hesitating before every shot, it's fair to say that the mission has been accomplished.
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