Previous Day Recaps: Day 5 | Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2 | Day 1
Croatia 80 – Brazil 76
The opening match of Day 6 was a thriller at the Carioca Arena 1, as the host country embarked on a valiant comeback against Croatia in the fourth quarter. Down by nine heading into the final frame, the Brazilians used five three-pointers to twice cut the lead to just three points. Ultimately, however, Croatia was able to hold them off in the final few minutes to move to 2-1 in the tournament. With the loss, Brazil is now 1-2 after three games.
NBA Watch
Brazil
Marcelinho Huertas (Los Angeles Lakers): 10 points, 9 assists, 2 steals
Nene Hilario (Houston Rockets): 5 points, 3 steals, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
Leandrinho Barbosa (Phoenix Suns): 16 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
Croatia
Bojan Bogdanovic (Brooklyn Nets): 33 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Mario Hezonja (Orlando Magic): 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Dario Saric (Philadelphia 76ers): 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
Spain 96 – Nigeria 87
International juggernaut Spain finally got their first Olympic win of this games Thursday, and had to hang on late to get it. Leading by as many as 16 throughout, the tide turned in the 3rd with a technical and foul trouble for Pau Gasol, and the 3-point shooting of Nigeria’s Chamberlain Oguchi. Oguchi gave Nigeria a one point lead and finished with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting from three. But it was veteran Spain who settled in the 4th to win, and their strategy was to thank: Nigeria sent up 35 3-point attempts, and only got to the foul line three times.
NBA Watch
Spain
Pau Gasol (San Antonio Spurs): 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Jose Calderon (Los Angeles Lakers): 2 assists, 1 rebound
Willy Hernangomez (New York Knocks): 11 points, 3 rebounds
Nikola Mirotic (Chicago Bulls): 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves): 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Lithuania 81 – Argentina 73
Lithuania and Argentina played a very evenly matched, back-and-forth 1st half, with Lithuania finally gaining some separation late in the 3rd. A series of forced turnovers and particularly three-straight scores from Mindaugas Kuzminskas, punctuated by a huge fastbreak slam for a 10-point lead. (Two Manu Ginobili free throws cut the lead to 8 entering the 4th). One more big run from Lithuania fought off Argentina’s 3-point shooting for good.
NBA Watch
Lithuania
Mindaugas Kuzminskas (New York Knicks): 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal
Domantas Sabonis (Oklahoma City Thunder): 7 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
Jonas Valanciunas (Toronto Raptors): 6 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist
Argentina
Luis Scola (Brooklyn Nets): 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs): 22 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
