Nigeria Stuns Team USA In Pre-Olympic Exhibition binnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from binnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images Nigeria probably didn’t expect it, either. If there was any expectation of invincibility for the Americans heading into the Tokyo Olympics, it’s already gone after Nigeria beat the U.S. 90-87 on Saturday night, an international shocker pulled off by a roster primarily filled by little-known NBA players that found a way to beat a group of All-NBA, All-Star and max-contract performers. “We just wanted to compete,” said Nigeria’s Gabe Nnamdi, who goes by Gabe Vincent when playing for the Miami Heat. “We know what USA Basketball means around the world and what they’ve stood for for so long.”
Nigeria pulls off massive upset victory against Team USA
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Nigeria entered the matchup with Team USA as a 30-point underdog but knocked down 20 threes en route to a stunning 90-87 win in a pre-Olympics exhibition game.
Just nine years ago, USA thumped Nigeria 156-73, but that was before Nigeria put 16 players in the NBA and dozens more in professional leagues around the world. Even so, Team USA’s roster is comprised of All-Stars and All-NBA types, and they figured to coast to an easy win in their first game together.
Last modified on Sun 11 Jul 2021 03.08 EDT
This is not how USA Basketball expected to open their Olympic summer. Nigeria probably didnât expect it, either.
If there was any expectation of invincibility for the Americans heading into the Tokyo Olympics, itâs already gone â after Nigeria shocked the US, 90-87, on Saturday night.
The result marked the top-ranked United Statesâ first ever defeat to an African nation.
Nigeria pulled off an international shocker with a roster primarily filled of little-known NBA players that found a way to beat a group of All-NBA, All-Star and max-contract performers.
Nigeria shocked the top-ranked United States, 90-87, on Saturday night.
Shocker: US falls to Nigeria 90-87 in pre-Olympic opener
By TIM REYNOLDSJuly 11, 2021 GMT
Nigeria probably didn’t expect it, either.
If there was any expectation of invincibility for the Americans heading into the Tokyo Olympics, it’s already gone after Nigeria beat the U.S. 90-87 on Saturday night, an international shocker pulled off by a roster primarily filled by little-known NBA players that found a way to beat a group of All-NBA, All-Star and max-contract performers.
“We just wanted to compete,” said Nigeria’s Gabe Nnamdi, who goes by Gabe Vincent when playing for the Miami Heat. “We know what USA Basketball means around the world and what they’ve stood for for so long.”