HoopWatch

The Russians won against Pau Gasol and Spain in a dramatic fashion. They carved out a cardiac squeaker, 60-59, against the current World Basketball Champions. Andrei Kirilenko led Russia with 17 points and he added three blocks.

The Russians trailed by as much as ten midway in the third canto. A further blow was sent their way when Kirilenko was called for his fourth foul on a good acting job by Spain’s Jimenez. But the Russians fought back hard via the exploits of Victor Khryapa and his killer three as time expired in the third. Gasol had a chance to win the ballgame for Spain, but his jumper bounced in-and-out as time expired.