Spain will have a chance at revenge Thursday when it faces France in the semifinals of Eurobasket 2015. Both won quarterfinal games Tuesday, setting up another meeting between Europe’s two most talented countries.
In last year’s World Cup in Spain, France ended the host’s dreams of a gold medal with a 65-52 victory in Madrid. France lost to Serbia in the semifinals before edging Lithuania for the bronze medal.
Now Spain has a chance to get even by toppling the hosts. It was also France that ended Spain’s two-cycle reign as European champions, knocking off “La Roja” in overtime in the semifinals of Eurobasket 2013 before defeating Lithuania for the gold medal.
Spain 73, Greece 71
It was a classic European battle all the way, but Spain reached its ninth consecutive EuroBasket semifinal. In a game that saw every player and coach leave all they had on the hardwood, Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol of Spain led all scorers with 27 points.
Real Madrid’s Sergio Llull had two threes to start off a low-scoring first quarter, which ended with a 
beautiful tear-drop floater by Greece’s Nick Calathes that tied the game, 14-14. Led by Gasol, who seems to turn into a superhero whenever he steps onto the international stage, and Bulls teammate Nikola Mirotic, who had 12 of his 18 points in the first half, the Spaniards built some momentum and went to the break leading, 39-32.
Greece rallied in the third quarter, taking a 44-42 lead when Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo made a blind side block of Gasol’s hook shot, slamming it against the backboard and triggering a fast break that gave the Greens the lead.
But in the fourth quarter, Greece went cold, making just one of its first 11 shots. Antetokounmpo, playing like a 6-11 Dennis Rodman, finished with 12 points and 17 boards, but the Greeks were chasing and playing uphill for most of the game.
Spain held a 69-65 lead with 27 seconds left before Gasol split a pair of free throws. Calathes hit a quick 3-pointer and fouled Sergio Rodriguez, who knocked down both free throws.
Another desperation 3-pointer from Kostas Sloukas made it a one-point game with 4.1 seconds to go. The Greeks again fouled Gasol, who again split the pair. But Antetokounmpo’s halfcourt prayer was not answered, and “La Roja” moved on.
France 84, Latvia 70
There were 22,000 fans on hand to watch France get past a scrappy Latvia squad. All-time Eurobasket scoring leader Tony Parker had 18 points and San Antonio Spurs teammate Boris Diaw added 14 for the French.
Despite having no active NBA players to France’s six, Latvia showed a fearless attitude toward the host and opened a 25-21 lead after one quarter. In the second period, France guard Evan Fournier of the Orlando Magic had his shot blocked, then had a turnover wedged between two airballed 3-pointers.
Parker rallied France with a personal 7-0 run, and the hosts pulled within 40-38 at the half.
In the third quarter, “Les Bleus” re-established themselves. Parker’s lob set up a monster dunk by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert that built a double-digit advantage before Charlotte Hornets forward Nic Batum finally emerged with a jumper that made it 52-40. Despite switching to a zone defense, Latvia still trailed, 56-45, after three periods.
Denver Nuggets big man Joffrey Lauvergne was a factor on both ends in the final quarter, preventing Latvia from putting together a rally.