Spain to play for gold medal minus injured Gasol

SAITAMA, Japan -- Pau Gasol, Spain's leading scorer and rebounder, has a partial fracture in his left foot and will not play in the FIBA world championships gold medal game against Greece on Sunday night, according to team officials.

In a release on the team's web site Saturday night, Gasol, who was injured in the final minutes of the semifinal victory over Argentina, has "a partial fracture to the base of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, so he will be unavailable" for the championship game.

The 7-foot Gasol, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, hurt his left foot when he was fouled with 1:36 remaining in the 75-74 victory over Argentina. He made the two free throws to give Spain (8-0) a 73-67 lead, then left for the bench.

After the win that guaranteed Spain its first medal ever in a world championship, Gasol had to be carried from the court by two teammates, including his younger brother, Marc.

He underwent a scan and MRI on Saturday at the Kato Orthopedic Clinic in Saitama, according to the release.

"The player is not supporting any weight on the injured foot. The national team's medical services has submitted to his club (Memphis) a medical report, as well as the exam results, so they can evaluate the therapeutic steps to be taken," the release said.

The Grizzlies said that Gasol's foot will require surgery and that additional information would be released next week.

Gasol, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds against Argentina, is averaging 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds for the tournament.

He did not attend the team's practice Saturday night, staying at the team's hotel.

Marc Gasol, who will see extra minutes in his brother's absence, was asked before the practice if Pau would play.

"I don't know, I don't think so," he said about an hour before the Spanish federation released its statement.

Gasol was slowed at the end of the NBA's regular season with a sore left foot, but did return for the playoffs.

"There is a large difference in us without Pau Gasol," coach Pepu Hernandez said after the victory over Argentina. "We have to keep going and keep our confidence. We have to try the same things we did to get here only with 11 players and maybe that will be enough."

Greece (8-0) advanced with a 101-95 victory over the United States in the semifinals.