Grizzlies' Gasol out 3 months

Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies will have surgery Friday to repair a broken bone in his left foot.

Gasol, 26, is expected to be sidelined at least three months.

The all-star forward fractured the fifth metatarsal bone on Saturday, when he was fouled with 1:36 remaining in Spain's 75-74 semifinal victory over Argentina at the world basketball championships in Saitama, Japan.

Spain went on to clinch the gold medal, 70-47 over Greece.

Gasol didn't play in Sunday's final, but led the Spaniards (9-0) with 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game and was named the tournament's most valuable player.

Gasol was equally sensational for the Grizzlies last season, averaging career highs in points (20.3), rebounds (8.9), assists (4.6) and minutes (39.1).

He has averaged 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 35.2 minutes in 378 NBA games, including 372 starts, since being drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2001.

Memphis acquired Gasol's draft rights less than a month later in a blockbuster, three-way trade involving the Indiana Pacers.

The Grizzlies begin pre-season play Oct. 10 at Houston and open the regular season at home to the New York Knicks on Nov. 1.