Spain expands Eurobasket lead with a commanding 64-90 win over Georgia

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Spain sealed their second Eurobasket win with a commanding 64-90 victory over Georgia, a performance built on collective effort and relentless defense. Every member of Sergio Scariolo’s squad contributed to a result that felt like a statement, marking a clear step forward in a tournament that has demanded resilience and adaptability from the start. The scoreboard told part of the story, yet the true tale lay in the way the Spanish team balanced offense and discipline, turning a tense opening into a decisive middle and late stretch.

The atmosphere in Tbilisi was electric, the home crowd creating a pressure cooker that Spain absorbed with calm and focus. Georgia began with purpose, but the visitors quickly demonstrated the maturity of a side that has faced high expectations and the weight of a nation counting on a deep pool of talent. Spain arrived at the arena with a clear game plan: rotate intelligently, move the ball with purpose, and look to exploit mismatches on the front line. The hosts, eager to protect their chances of advancing, watched as Spain asserted control through patience and sharp execution.

Missing key guards from the previous decade, including the veteran Sergio Rodríguez and the world-renowned Ricky Rubio, Spain leaned on the depth of their roster and the versatility of Lorenzo Brown, whose natural leadership helped stabilize the backcourt when pressure mounted. Brown’s arrival breathed steady tempo into the offense, while teammates found rhythm through purposeful ball movement and selective, high-percentage looks from beyond the arc. The early stages showed some rough edges, with a 3-for-17 three-point stretch that unsettled the rhythm, yet the team responded with a steady recalibration that ultimately paid dividends.

Despite the absence of Tornike Shengelia, a major threat for Georgia, Giorgi Shermadini emerged as the primary focal point for the Georgian attack. Scariolo capitalized on this by tightening the defense around Shermadini while encouraging others to contribute, knowing that Georgia needed more than a single source of offense to stay competitive. The strategy paid off as Spain clamped down in key moments, yet the rest of the Georgian lineup found timely baskets that kept the score tight and heightened the tension for the visitors.

The first period concluded with Juancho Hernangómez initiating a sequence that sharpened the Spanish advantage. After a tentative start, Spain found its footing as Lorenzo Brown began to impose his influence with precise passes and decisive drives. In the closing minutes of the quarter, Alberto Díaz delivered a crucial three-pointer that steadied the ship and pushed the lead into a more comfortable range as the period ended. Spain headed into the second period carrying a modest edge shaped by disciplined defense and a growing belief in their collective depth.

Jaime Pradilla then delivered a timely triple that widened the margin, while Andronikashvili’s two consecutive baskets briefly revived Georgia’s hopes of erasing the deficit. The Georgian crowd sensed a possible comeback, yet Spain answered with a series of productive possessions from Hernangómez and López-Arostegui, sustaining a double-digit gap as the teams retreated to the locker rooms with Spain ahead 31-40. The chorus of cheers from the Spanish supporters did little to ease the tension but underscored the team’s growing confidence in their game plan.

Out of halftime, the Spanish trio of Juancho and Willy Hernangómez, alongside the sturdy contributions from the rest of the rotation, began to impose more consistent pressure. They stretched the lead to a comfortable margin, while Georgia’s game plan showed signs of wear as the energy level of the visitors remained high. Thad McFadden for Georgia tried to keep his team competitive, sparking a brief push that pulled the score to 45-54, but the rhythm of Spain’s offense, anchored by disciplined ball movement and smart shot selection, began to dominate again.

Defensive discipline remained the cornerstone of Spain’s approach through the third period. A series of well-timed stops and effective rotations enabled the team to unleash a controlled burst of offense, with the veteran presence of Alberto Díaz, Rudy Fernández, and Jaime Pradilla contributing crucial plays as the clock wound down. The defense tightened further, and the offense found its stride, producing a substantial 47-71 lead as the quarter concluded. Spain’s superiority in transition and execution in the half-court game kept the Georgian attack from gaining momentum, ensuring the visitors controlled the tempo.

Entering the final period, Spain rotated more players into action, trusting the second unit to maintain energy and intensity. Pradilla, Parra, Díaz, and Fernández provided valuable minutes, while Jaume Fernández and Brizuela supplemented the scoring when opportunities arose. The teamwork remained coherent and relentless, and the lead continued to widen. The final score reflected a comprehensive performance in which Spain maintained their focus until the final buzzer, finishing with a 64-90 margin that underscored the depth and cohesion of Scariolo’s squad.

Data sheet summary:

Georgia’s top contributors included Andronikashvili, Mamukelashvili, Shermadini, McFadden, and Bitadze, who balanced the scoring for their team even as the point gap grew. For Spain, Brown and the Hernangómez brothers led the scoring, with Pradilla, López-Arostegui, and Fernández also delivering significant contributions. The defensive effort was anchored by Díaz and Fernández, with Pradilla’s role growing as the game progressed. The refereeing crew represented a mix of international officials, reflecting a match that demanded poise and consistency from both teams. The clash was staged during the second day of Eurobasket group A, in front of a substantial crowd that added to the intensity of the contest.

Overall, the game showcased Spain’s breadth of options, their willingness to adapt, and a clear blueprint that translated into a confident win. It was a testament to a team that thrives on shared responsibility, disciplined defense, and a balanced offense capable of exploiting multiple pathways to scoring success.

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