Latvia defeated Spain 74-69 in the opening, very exciting match of the newly formed Group L at the FIBA World Cup.
Latvia played the entire Mundobasket without injured players Kristaps Porzingis and Dairis Bertans, who were also unavailable for this match.
The first half was marked by a very tight game. Both teams struggled with their shooting percentages, and such a pace naturally favored Spain, which went into halftime with a slight lead. The only player in ‘La Roja’ to reach double digits was Willy Hernangomez with 10 points, but that was not enough to extend their lead beyond three points.
Things started to change slowly in the third quarter. Despite Latvia’s slightly better start, Spain turned the tide with a series of three-pointers and built a double-digit lead. When that happens, a team led by Sergio Scariolo rarely lets go of the game. However, the Baltic team took advantage of the opponent’s relaxation and, led by Davis Bertans, took the lead in the final minutes. Dario Brizuela committed a crucial foul in the attack when Latvia was leading by three points with eight seconds left. Then, Rodions Kurucs made two crucial free throws to secure a five-point lead and seal the game.
The leading scorers for the winners were Bertans with 16 points, and another former Partizan player, Kurucs, had 13 points. Willy Hernangomez led the Spaniards with 14 points.
Despite this victory, Latvia will not advance to the quarterfinals unless Spain defeats Canada, in addition to their victory over Brazil in the next round. If Latvia beats Brazil, and Canada defeats both Brazil and Spain, Canada would top the group, and Latvia would advance in the second position with Bertans and his teammates.
First half
Two offensively inspired teams didn’t appear as such in the first quarter. A true trench battle was fought on both sides, and neither team managed to establish a significant lead. It was a style that, however, seemed to suit the Spaniards more, as the Latvians were not accustomed to that tempo. At least, that’s how it appeared, although the Baltic squad ended the first quarter with just half a point lead.
Poor shooting percentages continued to mark the game. Sergio Scariolo’s team made two three-pointers out of nine attempts in the first 20 minutes, while their opponent, uncharacteristically for them, was only 2/12. What worked in Latvia’s favor was that, in such a power balance, they were only trailing by three points in a very tight match – 32:29.
Second half
Things started off well for Latvia at the beginning of the third quarter. Scariolo received a technical foul, and Rodions Kurucs and Davis Bertans connected on three-pointers, leading to an 8-0 run and a surplus for Latvia. Spain knew how to respond in kind, with Dario Brizuela and Rudy Fernandez making their own plays. They also extended their lead to double digits through Usman Garuba. Latvia’s bigger problem wasn’t just the threes they conceded but also their offensive struggles. “La Roja” knew how to stifle their opponent effectively.
Latvia attempted to close the gap and succeeded after Kristers Zoriks made a three-pointer, bringing the score to 61:58. It didn’t end there. The same player was accurate from long range again to tie the game, causing unease among the opponent’s camp. This nervousness shook the defending champions, who were almost knocked out when Bertans hit another three-pointer. An exciting finish followed, with Brizuela committing an offensive foul with eight seconds left, and Kurucs sealing the Latvians’ victory from the free-throw line.
SPAIN – LATVIA 69:74 (17:18, 16:12, 26:18, 11:27)
Arena: Indonesia Arena, Jakarta
Referees: Vazquez, Glisic, Fernandez
Spain: Aldama 2, Brizuela 8, Claver 4, W. Hernangomez 14, J. Hernangomez 9, Llull 5, Abrines 5, Diaz 3, Fernandez 5, Garuba 11, Nunez, Parra.
Latvia: Bertans 16, Cavars, Grazulis 10, R. Kurucs 13, A. Kurucs 1, Pasecniks, Skele 2, Smits 11, Strautins 2, Zagars 7, Zoriks 10.