updated 3:12 a.m. ET Aug. 23, 2006

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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“We came into the game looking to compete,” Nwosu said. “We weren’t thinking this is the best team in the world.”

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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