Ultimately, the German Team had the last laugh.
Nowitzki was ferocious. Facing Spain's Gasol, he went into beast mode for the entire game, dropping 38 points. In the end, they sent Spain packing with a two-point victory to advance to the finals.
This would be the second time Nowitzki and Su Xi had faced off in a final this summer.
Last time, he was swept.
Now, the old rivals met again.
Nowitzki wasn't resentful in the slightest; on the contrary, he was very calm. When faced with a reporter's provocative questions, he answered matter-of-factly, "No one knows what will happen in the finals. If we play better, we'll win the gold medal. It's as simple as that."
This was his response to the American reporters.
American reporters were always trying to stir up a big story.
Of course, they also asked, "You're one of the best power forwards in the NBA. The Chinese Team has one of the best centers and one of the best guards in the NBA. Would you consider this an ultimate NBA showdown?"
