EUROBASKET 2011

Turning Point: Trailing 42-25 late in the first half, Poland cut the gap to 80-78 with 17.2 seconds remaining. Spain's Juan Carlos Navarro made a pair from the charity stripe as Spain held on for victory.

Game Heroes: Spain's Pau Gasol poured in 12 of his game-high 29 points in the final quarter while team-mate Juan Carlos Navarro finished with 23.

Stats Don't Lie: Spain out-rebounded Poland 36-30. Spain were 34-for-43 (79%) from the free-throw line while Poland finished 16-for 21 (76%).

Spain got their EuroBasket title defence off to a nervy start with an 83-78 win over Poland on Wednesday afternoon.

In the first game of the opening day at the Panevezys Arena, Sergio Scariolo's men had hoped to underline their status as Group A favourites but were to made to work hard by never-say-die Poland to secure victory.

The EuroBasket 2009 MVP Pau Gasol had a game-high 29 points while team-mate Juan Carlos Navarro finished with 23.

Spain led 42-25 late in the first half but Poland hit back after the break to cut the gap 80-78 with 17.2 seconds remaining.

Navarro made two from the charity stripe to give Spain a four-point advantage with 16 seconds remaining before Gasol came up with his second steal of the game from a Lukasz Koszarek turnover.

Gasol set the tone early on, scoring 11 of Spain's opening 13 points before taking a seat midway through the first quarter.

Spain led 22-15 after 10 minutes played.

Ales Pipan's men came to life at the start of the second quarter and went on a 4-0 run to cut the gap 22-19.

Navarro and Serge Ibaka, playing in his first EuroBasket since gaining Spanish nationality this summer, combined to score Spain's next 11 points as the defending champions went to the break with a 44-31 lead.

Poland's comeback in the second half come up just short.

Lukasz Koszarek led the Poles in scoring with 19 while team-mate Thomas Kelati contributed with 18.

Next up for Spain is a game against neighbours Portugal on Thursday while Poland will try to quickly forget their opening game defeat and be ready for tournament hosts Lithuania.