Rio de Janeiro: Dario Saric blocked Pau Gasol game-tying inside shot attempt at the final buzzer on Sunday to secure Croatia’s 72-70 upset of Spain in a Rio Olympics men’s basketball preliminary round game.
The two NBA big men battled in the pain on the decisive play after an inbounds pass to Gasol under the basket.
The two-time NBA champion, now with the San Antonio Spurs, flipped up a shot that Saric, who plays for Philadlephia, batted away to seal the stunner in dramatic fashion.
Spain has taken silver in the past two Olympics behind the United States but the loss in the Group B opener is a sign that run could be in jeopardy.
Gasol had game highs of 26 points and nine rebounds while Nikola Mirotic added 19 points for the Spaniards.
