After recently skying over the gnome-like J.J. Barea, Andrew Wiggins took on someone closer to his own size Tuesday, and the result was basically the same: poster time.
.@22wiggins takes it all the way home for @CanBball!
http://t.co/LaxZaq5DlF
https://t.co/ERVt9NOAgx
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 1, 2015
Wiggins’ monster two-handed finish over former NBAer Andrés Nocioni wasn’t enough for Team Canada, however, as they went down 94-87 to the Argentinian squad at the FIBA Americas tournament opener.
Two years ago, Canada was knocked out of this Olympic qualifier by Argentina.
Per the Toronto Sun:
(Luis) Scola, who is the three-time defending MVP of this tournament, looks to be on the way to a fourth-straight award. He had 28 points in a win against Puerto Rico on Monday, then pulverized Canada to the tune of 35 points and 13 rebounds in another masterclass from the wizened veteran.
Canada’s top scorers — Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett — managed just 13 points apiece and the team shot just 42% from the field. […] Argentina wasn’t just more efficient, despite being far older, Scola and his teammates seemed to have much more energy and desire than their counterparts. There was some talk after the game that the former Olympic champions and world silver-medalists had been a bit perturbed about all the hype Canada’s NBA-player-laden roster had been getting at the expense of the proven contenders.
It was a rough return to action for starting centre Kelly Olynyk, who was back after missing three games due to a left knee injury. Olynyk did have a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds), but shot just 4-for-13 and was one of Scola’s choice victims, repeatedly getting scored on in various ways. […] “He’s a really good player, he’s got a lot of stuff to his game,” Olynyk said of Scola. “He can shoot the ball, drive, closeout, in the post, up-and-unders, lots of fakes. He’s a guy that you’ve got to stay disciplined on. Through their offence, he touched the ball two, three, four times a possession. It’s tough to guard. We’ve got to guard him with five guys and we didn’t do a great job on him tonight.”
