Spain's EuroBasket title defense in jeopardy after loss to Italy

LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) — Spain is in danger of not getting out of Group C after losing 67-63 to Italy on Tuesday, but the defending EuroBasket champion still controls its destiny.

Marco Spissu put Italy in front for good at 64-63 with two free throws with 31 seconds left and made two more with 14 seconds remaining. Giampaolo Ricci converted one of two free throws with eight seconds on the clock.

Spain, which in 2022 won its fourth title, is tied with Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 2-2 each. Greece and Italy have clinched two of the group's four spots in the round of 16. But Georgia plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, so if Spain defeats Greece that same day, the Spaniards will advance.

The knockout phase will be in Riga, Latvia, from Sept. 6-14. Spain beat France 88-76 in the 2022 final.

Mouhamet Diouf led a balanced Italian attack with 14 points, Ricci added 11 points and Saliou Niang had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Niang in the second round this year.

Santi Aldama, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, led Spain with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Sergio de Larrea scored 15 points.

Deni Avdija led the way with 22 points as Israel reached the knockout stage with a 92-89 win over Belgium, when Slovenia and France also advanced. Poland is also into the next round from Group D.

Luka Doncic scored 26 points as Slovenia overcame Iceland 87-79 to reach the last 16, qualifying France along the way. The Los Angeles Lakers star was just 2 of 10 from 3-point range.

Avdija, a Portland Trail Blazers forward, scored 23 points Sunday when Israel stunned Paris Olympics silver medalist France 82-69. This time, Maccabi Tel Aviv center Roman Sorkin backed him up with 18 points.

Israel led by 21 points at one stage in the Polish city of Katowice before Belgium closed the gap.

With four seconds left, Yam Madar sank two free throws to give Israel a 92-87 lead and ensure a tense victory that put Israel provisionally top of Group D.

Loic Schwartz hit four three-pointers among his 14 points for Belgium.

Later Tuesday in Group D, France faced co-host Poland, while defending champion Spain played already-qualified Italy in Group C in the Cypriot city of Limassol.

Greece lost 80-77 to Bosnia and Herzegovina for its first Group C defeat.

The Greeks had already qualified for the last 16 and star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was rested in Limassol because of some knee discomfort.

Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis told Greek public broadcaster ERT that Antetokounmpo should be available to play Thursday against Spain.

Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic and John Roberson both had 18 points for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which improved to 2-2 in the group phase.

Georgia kept its qualifying chances alive with a 93-61 rout of co-host Cyprus, which is winless. Barcelona forward Tornike Shengelia scored 27 points for Georgia and Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze had 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Guerschon Yabusele made 6 of 12 3-pointers and scored 36 points to help France defeat Poland 83-76.

Yabusele, who started 43 games for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, also had six rebounds.

Élie Okobo added 14 points and 10 assists for France and Jaylen Hoard scored 10 points.

Jordan Loyd led Poland with 18 points, Mateusz Ponitka scored 16 points and Michał Sokołowski finished with 15.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Georgia's Tornike Shengelia goes for the basket during the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship Group C match between Greece and Bosnia at Spyros Kyprianou Arena, in Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Chara Savvidou)

Italy's Simone Fontecchio reacts after his team won Spain at the end of the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship Group C match between Spain and Italy at Spyros Kyprianou Arena, in Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Chara Savvidou)

Spain's Santi Aldama reacts after his team's loss to Italy during the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship Group C match between Spain and Italy at Spyros Kyprianou Arena, in Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Chara Savvidou)

Spain's Joel Parra defends against Italy's Simone Fontecchio, left, during the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship Group C match between Spain and Italy at Spyros Kyprianou Arena, in Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Chara Savvidou)

Greece's Kostas Sloukas, left, shoots next to Bosnia's Amar Gegic during the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship Group C match between Greece and Bosnia at Spyros Kyprianou Arena, in Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Chara Savvidou)

Bosnia's Jusuf Nurkic, left, speaks with Greece's Giannis Antetokounmpo after the end of the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship Group C match between Greece and Bosnia at Spyros Kyprianou Arena, in Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Chara Savvidou)

HINWIL, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 16, 2026--

Audi Revolut F1 Team today announced a multi-year partnership with Nexo, the leading digital assets platform. The strategic partnership sees Nexo become the team’s inaugural official digital asset partner, placing Nexo’s next-generation digital tools on a global stage.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260116368670/en/

The partnership marks a pivotal moment for both organisations as Audi Revolut F1 Team enters Formula 1 and Nexo accelerates its growth as a premium digital asset platform. Ambitious and performance-driven, both brands are aligned around a shared trajectory of innovation and disciplined execution, underpinned by a common engineering mindset and a focus on performance at the highest level.

Over the course of the partnership, Nexo will activate globally through premium experiences and digital-first engagement. Exclusive opportunities designed to bring fans and Nexo clients closer to Audi Revolut F1 Team will include exclusive access, co-created content and education, and next-generation immersive brand experiences.

Stefano Battiston, Chief Commercial Officer of Audi Revolut F1 Team: “Today, we are proud to welcome Nexo as our official digital asset partner at a moment of strong growth for both organisations. The partnership reflects a shared ambition to scale with discipline and innovation, and to create tangible value — from exclusive experiences to new ways of engaging our global fanbase and Nexo’s clients.”

Antoni Trenchev, Co-founder, Nexo: “Nexo was built for a demanding reality: instant, self-directed, and always on. Partnering with Audi Revolut F1 Team at the start of their new era is a statement about how we see the future. As the team’s official digital asset partner, we will bring meaningful utility and premium experiences to a global audience, grounded in the same discipline and precision that defines success in motor sports.”

About Nexo

Nexo is a premier digital assets wealth platform designed to empower clients to grow, manage, and preserve their crypto holdings. Our mission is to lead the next generation of wealth creation by focusing on customer success and delivering tailored solutions that build enduring value, supported by 24/7 client care.

Since 2018, Nexo has provided unmatched opportunities to forward-thinking clients in over 150 jurisdictions. With over $11 billion in AUM and over $371 billion processed, we bring lasting value to millions worldwide. Our all-in-one platform combines advanced technology with a client-first approach, offering high-yield flexible and fixed-term savings, crypto-backed loans, sophisticated trading tools, and liquidity solutions, including the first crypto debit/credit card. Built on deep industry expertise, a sustainable business model, robust infrastructure, stringent security, and global licensing, Nexo champions innovation and long-lasting prosperity.

Official website: nexo.com

About Audi Revolut F1 Team

Audi Revolut F1 Team is the official factory team of Audi, as the brand enters the FIA Formula 1 World Championship for the first time in 2026. This project, in which Audi will create its own hybrid drive system ('power unit') developed in Germany, represents the ultimate expression of the manufacturer's ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ philosophy and embodies a long-term commitment to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport with the clear objective of challenging for world championships by 2030. Audi Revolut F1 Team is based in three locations: the power unit is developed by Audi Formula Racing GmbH at the Audi Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg, Germany; the chassis is engineered and race operations are managed from the state-of-the-art facilities of Audi Motorsport AG in Hinwil, Switzerland; while the Audi Motorsport Technology Centre UK in Bicester, United Kingdom, provides a foothold in the heart of 'Motorsport Valley', with direct access to top F1 talent and key strategic partners. This integrated structure provides complete control over the project, embedding a culture of precision, innovation, and relentless performance. Audi’s entry is strategically timed to coincide with new Formula 1 regulations focused on increased electrification, as the electric share of the hybrid drive is raised to almost 50%, and the introduction of 100% sustainable fuels. The entry into Formula 1, one of the most important platforms in the world, serves as a high-tech catalyst for the entire Audi brand, acting as a global stage to demonstrate technological leadership and connect with new, diverse audiences by creating cultural impact that resonates far beyond the race track.

Audi Revolut F1 Team Welcomes Nexo as Official Digital Asset Partner