Australia cut short Nigeria’s basketball prowess by trouncing her 108-69 to win their third game in a row at the Las Vegas exhibition series on Wednesday as both teams continue their preparation for the Olympics.
Buoyed by an upset win against Team USA, Nigeria was celebrating the defeat of USA 90-87 in pre-Olympic basketball tournament until the Boomers clipped their wing.
The loss is Mike Brown’s first since taking over as coach of D’Tigers in 2020.
The efficient Aussies displayed grit and technical prowess as they swept D’Tigers apart in the first quarter taking a 13-point lead to end 26-13. The third ranked nation in the world continued their dominance in the second quarter ending with a comfortable 20-point lead – 49-29.
The Australians opened a 38-point lead to end the quarter 84-46, then clocking the 100-point mark to win by 39 points ending the game 108-69.
The Australians made it three wins in a row with Chris Gouding scoring 21 points, three rebounds and four steals. He hit 100 per cent accuracy from the three-point line making all seven attempts.
Josh Okogie and Obi Emegano led D’Tigers in scoring with 10 points a piece while Jahlil Okafor had seven points and five rebounds and Ike Iroegbu also scored seven points in a game they will want to forget in a hurry.
Nigeria have had an impressive run during the exhibition series beating powerhouses USA and Argentina before suffering their first loss.
D’Tigers will face the Boomers in their first game at the Olympics on July 25 and will be hoping to get a better return.
Meanwhile, USA again fell to the Australia team.
For the first time, the 29-year-old NBA players have joined the national team, when the game ended, there was a Booze clash – on home soil, no less.
Pitti Mills scored 22 points and Australia beat Australia in the final on Monday night to defeat the Americans without conceding a goal in the 3: 34 match. Game slate of exhibitions up to the Tokyo Games.
“We thought we were better off tonight,” said US coach Greg Popovich. “After a while, there are a lot of things to cover, but the first half and the second half were two different animals.
“In the first part, we defended the way we wanted to defend. … We turned out better again. We moved the ball better at the offensive end and gained more speed. In the second part, we were bored.
“Joe Inglis from Ing Australia scored 17 points, Mattis Thaibule 12 and Chris Golding 11.
“We took part in the game in anticipation of winning,” Ingles said.
Starting with the World Cup quarter-finals in China two years ago and then his two performances in Vegas, the U.S. His last five games with NBA players against international competition are 1-4.
In the previous 105 games before that, U.S. Went to 101-4.
Damien Lillard led the U.S. with 22 points, while Kevin Durant finished with 17 and Bradley Bill with 12. But the Americans spent a 10-point second-half lead, and have dropped back-to-back games for just the third time since the NBA. In 1992, players began wearing red, white and blue. (Reports from AP)
