Li Yueru scores 31 points for China in thrilling loss to Spain

Despite a huge game from Li Yeuru, China fell to Spain in a wild, thrilling contest to open 2024 Olympics play in Paris.

Dearica Hamby isn’t the only Sparks player participating in the Olympics this summer. Center Li Yueru kicked off her own Olympic campaign on Sunday with an incredible, thrilling game against Spain.

Yeuru scored 31 points with 15 rebounds, but China collapsed late in regulation and fell in overtime, 90-89.

This would be the part where I’d embed the highlights video, but everything about the Olympics is designed to not share the videos, either on social media or elsewhere and embedding is not allowed for their YouTube videos.

Instead, here’s the link to them.

China led this game late in the fourth by five points with under 30 seconds remaining. After missing a free throw that would have put them up six, China then fouled Spain on a layup, giving them a three-point play.

They followed that up by splitting another pair of free throws, leaving the door open for Spain. And to cap off their collapse, they fouled Spain’s Leonor Rodriguez ON A 3-POINTER with six seconds left, which she made for a four-point play opportunity.

For those good at math, you’ll realize Spain tied the game with the shot and had a chance to take the lead on the free throw, but missed and China’s half-court heave missed, leading to the extra session.

Yeuru did all she could late to save China. With 14 seconds left, she buried a 3-pointer to pull her side within two at 89-87. Spain, this time, left the door open by splitting free throws with 13 seconds left.

Spain opted not to foul up three, China opted not to shoot a 3-pointer after lots of dribbling around and Yeuru converted a layup with four seconds left. However, in a gaffe that cost them the game, China did not press in the back court and Spain simply dribbled the clock out to win by one.

A truly wild ending.

Yeuru finished the game shooting 9-16 from the field and 12-13 at the free throw line. While she had a clear height advantage, she also had plenty of nifty footwork, too. Ten of her 15 rebounds were offensive boards as China had 19 second-chance points.

Yeuru will be back in action on Wednesday when China takes on Serbia. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for bright and early at 4:30 a.m. PT.

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