Pau Gasol produced an international career high of 40 points in Lille on Thursday as Spain powered past the 2013 champions France to win the first Eurobasket 2015 semifinal.
Lithuania or Serbia will meet the Spanish team in Sunday’s final.
Spain trailed often through regulation time but both teams were 66-66 at the end of the last quarter.
The overtime period saw France’s Nicholas Batum lose possession with 59 seconds remaining and the score Spain 74, France 75. Spain attacked and Pau Gasol scored a two pointer to put Spain ahead.
Gasol then delivered another slamdunk to put Spain further ahead on 78-75, and then Victor Claver made a personal foul on Nicholas Batum giving him the gift of three free throw chances.
But the French forward missed all three chances, to the dismay of the partisan French fans, and Spain attacked again with Claver passing to Gasol, for yet another slamdunk.
This brought Spain’s total to 80 against France’s 75, with Gasol’s personal tally at 40.
Lithuania and Serbia will fight out the second semifinal on Friday.
