Argentina clinches first place in Group A
Nocioni, Ginobili lead win over Nigeria, 4-0 record
 KEN SHIMIZU / AFP/Getty Images Argentina's Emanuel Ginobili goes up for a shot against Nigeria's Julius Nwosu on Wednesday. Ginobili scored 20 points. |
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SENDAI, Japan - Andres Nocioni scored 23 points Wednesday as Argentina beat Nigeria 98-64 to secure first place in Group A at the FIBA world championships.
Nocioni, the Chicago Bulls forward who hurt his left ankle in the third quarter of Monday’s game against Venezuela, didn’t miss a shot Wednesday. He was perfect from the field and was 5-for-5 from the 3-point line.
“I don’t remember ever having a game where I didn’t miss a shot,” Nocioni said. “We played with a lot confidence in our shooting today.”
Argentina, runner-up at the 2002 worlds in Indianapolis, improved to 4-0. Nigeria dropped to 1-3.
“This game was an important game for us,” Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez said. “We knew if we won, we’d win our group. Nigeria has a great defense and they are a tough team.”
Carlos Delfino of the Detroit Pistons got behind the zone for a dunk off Fabricio Oberto’s pass, and Argentina opened up a 77-49 lead with nine minutes left.
With 30 seconds remaining, Leonardo Gutierrez put the finishing touches on the one-sided win with a 3-pointer to make it 98-64.
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who scored 20 points, played most of the third quarter when Argentina took a 73-47 lead. Juan Sanchez’s 3-pointer with four minutes left in the third made it 62-42.
Nigeria’s Julius Nwosu tied it at 9 with a two-handed slam dunk, but Argentina went on an 11-point run to take a 20-9 lead and the Olympic champion closed out the first half with 41-30 advantage.
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Nocioni led Argentina with 12 points in the first half.
Nigeria plays Lebanon in its final preliminary round game, while Argentina faces Serbia and Montenegro.
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