The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Spain, Lithuania remain unbeaten

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2004

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Sport - Olympic Games

Spain, Lithuania remain unbeaten

ATHENS, AUG. 23. Lithuania remained unbeaten in Olympic men's basketball on Monday with a 100-85 win over Australia while Spain also moved to 5-0 and knocked out New Zealand from medal contention in an 88-84 win.

Robertas Javtokas scored 23 points and Ksistof Lavrinovic added 18 as Lithuania and Spain remained the only unbeaten teams in the competition. Lithuania has won the last three bronze medals.

Andrew Bogut had 21 points and nine rebounds for Australia, which will play for ninth place on Tuesday. Spain's win meant the Kiwis, 1-4, cannot advance to the medal round. It also meant that world champion Serbia-Montenegro was still in medal contention ahead of the team's later match on Monday against China.

Pau Gasol scored five consecutive points for Spain after New Zealand tied the game at 81-81.

Jorge Garbajosa led Spain with 17 points — 15 in the first half. Phillip Jones had 23 points for New Zealand.

``It was a complicated game since we had already secured first place, but we had to play for our honour,'' said Garbajosa. ``We will go to the quarterfinals with the same approach whether we play the United States, Puerto Rico or Greece.''

``Another tough game,'' said New Zealand centre Ed Book. ``Spain is a classy outfit. It capitalised on its chances, and we didn't.'' — AP

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