Both Spain and Brazil will head to the Olympic quarterfinals, but each will have a difficult road in order reach the podium at the end. After a frustrating loss, Spain will look to bounce back when they face Brazil later today at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Considered the second-best team in the Olympic field behind the United States, Spain could end up facing the star-studded American squad earlier than expected after it blew an 18-point lead in a 77-74 loss to Russia on Saturday. The victory clinched the Group B title for the Russians and dropped Spain (3-1) into a tie with Brazil (3-1), which rolled to a 98-59 win over China later Saturday.
"We should have been able to hang on to (a big lead)," said Pau Gasol, averaging 19.5 points and 5.8 rebounds during Olympic play. "We're leaving with a terrible sensation after this loss and now we have to take care of Brazil."
Brazil, which have not won a men's basketball medal since taking home the bronze at the 1964 Tokyo Games, has lost six previous meetings against Spain. The teams last met twice at 2002 world championships, and this is their first Olympic matchup since Spain won 101-100 during the 1992 Barcelona Games.
The winner of the contest will secure second place in the group but will likely face the Americans in the semifinals. The loser, meanwhile, will finish third and find itself on the other side of the quarterfinal bracket.