'Shattered': Boomers go down in double-overtime heartbreaker
The Boomers have fallen short in their efforts to progress to the FIBA World Cup final and guarantee their first medal in international basketball, falling to Spain in a double-overtime marathon, 95-88.
Despite holding a double digit lead in the third quarter, the Boomers allowed Spain to battle back thanks to a series of costly turnovers.
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A whopping 22 turnovers to Spain’s 14 proved the difference, as did a determined defensive effort down the stretch from their European rivals.
Patty Mills again paced the Boomers with 32 points, but only Nick Kay (18 points) and Andrew Bogut (12) managed to crack double digits.
Spain concentrated their defence on Mills later in the game, forcing the ball out of his hands where the likes of Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova were unable to capitalise.
Ingles and Dellavedova combined to go just 3-19 from the field, while Spanish guards Ricky Rubio (19 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists) and Sergio Llull (17 points, 6 assists) dominated.
It was centre Marc Gasol who troubled the Australians and the scorers the most, dropping 33 points to go with six boards and four assists.
After Spain fought back to force the first overtime with an impressive fourth quarter run, it was the Australians who had to work to extend the game into a second overtime.
Absolutely shattered. And still full of pride for the Boomers. What an epic performance. Took a seasoned, hardened Spanish team all the way to the brink. We’re right there. Can still get a first men’s medal. But oh man this stings 💔😭
— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) September 13, 2019
Boomers brave - but not unlucky. Cracked in the crunch against a more professional spain. Tragedy that the great patty mills missed a free throw clincher at end of regular time. He didn’t deserve that. #BoomersSpain
— ron reed (@reedrw) September 13, 2019
Geez. Tough to take...
Australian heartbreak in major basketball tournaments once again. But how good they’ve been all month 👏
Can’t fault anything about the Boomers - they are the hardest working and most resilient national team we have. True warriors, all of them #GoBoomers— Sebastian Hassett (@sebth) September 13, 2019
After missing a free throw that could have won the game for Australia earlier in the piece, Mills iced two shots to level the score.
But in the second OT, it was all one-way traffic for Spain.
Despite some late shots from Mills and Baynes, the damage had been done.
The Boomers will await the winner of the other semi-final between France and Argentina to play off for the bronze medal.