Rio Olympics: Pau Gasol leads Spain over Australia for bronze in men's basketball
The win did not come without controversy, thanks to a questionable foul call
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1 min read
Pau Gasol finished his 2016 Olympic Games -- and possibly the last international competition of his terrific career -- by leading Spain to an 89-88 win over Australia in the bronze medal game on Sunday. Gasol, who has been the best big man in Rio de Janeiro, finished with 31 points on 12-for-15 shooting, plus 11 rebounds.
The win did not come without controversy. With 10 seconds left in the game, Australia's Aron Baynes hit a hook shot over Gasol to put his team up 88-87. On the ensuing possession, Spain's Sergio Rodriguez appeared to lose his balance, trip and fall of his own accord as he drove to the basket. A foul was called on Patty Mills, however, and Rodriguez made two free throws to put Spain up by one point. Australia failed to get a shot off on the final possession.
Mills, who is now Gasol's teammate with the San Antonio Spurs, would have been the hero if Australia had managed to win its first ever medal in men's basketball. He scored 30 points on 11-for-23 shooting, with two assists and three steals.
Australia kept it close despite center Andrew Bogut, who has been the second-best big man in Rio, fouling out with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Bogut only played 14 minutes in the game.
This is the third straight Olympics in which Spain has won a medal. It won silver in 2008 and 2012. They also won gold at the 2006 FIBA World Championships. As for Australia, this is the fourth its finished fourth in the Olympics.
Team USA will face Serbia in the gold medal game at 2:45 p.m. ET on Sunday.
