ESP/GER – Spain pressure finally tells in victory over Germany

BEIJING (Olympics) – Spain used a 17-0 run that began at the end of the second quarter and finished in the third to seize control in a Group B win over Germany on Thursday.

Jose Manuel Calderon poured in 15 points to lead a balanced attack in a 72-59 victory, a result that has left Spain 3-0 heading into their showdown with Team USA on Saturday.

Alex Mumbru weighed in with 14 and Pau Gasol 13 for Spain, who got contributions from 11 of the 12 players.

Captain Carlos Jimenez dressed but sat on the bench for the entire game after banging his head on the floor in Tuesday’s overtime triumph against China.

Germany, losers to Greece in their previous game, are now 1-2.

Spain’s tenacious, hounding defense limited Germany’s NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki to just 11 points on five of 15 shooting.

Dirk Bauermann’s team went in front by as many as eight points in the first half but weren’t able to press home the advantage.

Spain tied the game at 33-33 on a pair of Mumbru free throws, only for Pascal Roller to drill a three-ball for the Germans with 1:06 left in the first half.

That’s when the Spaniards took over.

Calderon and Rudy Fernandez hit back-to-back shots from behind the arc to take a three-point lead to the changing rooms.

The Spanish then scored the first 11 points of the second half to take command for good.

Mumbru drilled a three, Ricky Rubio followed with a basket and then a three-point play and Jorge Garbajosa added another shot from long range for a 50-36 Spain lead.

The world champions opened a 16-point advantage but the Germans continued to fight and twice closed the gap to nine in the fourth quarter.

Three minutes into the final period, Steffen Hamann’s drive made it 63-54 but Juan Carlos Navarro replied with one of his patented tear-drop runners in the lane.

After Chris Kaman powered his way up for two with 3:02 left in the game, Calderon responded immediately with a three-pointer – his third in the contest.

Calderon finished three of four from long range.

Seventeen-year-old Rubio had another fine game, finishing with seven points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals for Spain.

Marc Gasol had eight rebounds to go with his seven points for Spain, while Germany’s Chris Kaman had a game-high 10 boards along with his eight points.

Spain forced Germany to commit 18 turnovers while committing just 11 themselves.

FIBA