Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’Tigers were on Tuesday humbled by Australia in their final exhibition game before the Tokyo Olympics showdown.
Mike Brown’s side was coming off a double victory having blazed past world number one, Dream Team of the United States as well as fourth-ranked Argentina but sadly lost by 39 points to the Australians on Tuesday.
The 108-69 defeat at the Las Vegas exhibition series on Wednesday was Brown’s first since taking over as coach of D’Tigers in 2020, according to The PUNCH.
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 apiece 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.
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.
