ARG/CRO – Argentina bring Croatia back down to Earth

BEIJING (Olympics) – The picture is looking a lot rosier on Thursday night for Argentina after the defending Olympic champions handed Croatia their first defeat at the Beijing Games, 77-53.

Narrowly beaten in their opener by Lithuania, the Argentinians have struck back with a vengeance, thrashing Australia and now the Croatians, one of the hottest teams in the tournament.

Sergio Hernandez’s team men were in front from start to finish, with Andres Nocioni leading a balanced scoring attack with 18 points.

Argentina were already in the ascendancy when they hit the Croatians with a blow that they never recovered from, a 9-0 run early in the second quarter to open a commanding 30-15 advantage.

Luis Scola and Fabricio Oberto started the surge with baskets down low and Carlos Delfino followed with a three-pointer.

Scola, who finished with 12 points, capped the run with another basket.

The lead ballooned to 30 in the second half before the South Americans settled for a 24-point triumph.

Argentina finished nine of 22 (41%) from long range, while inside the arc they made 19 of 32 (59%).

The Croatians had been red-hot shooting the ball in their first two games. They cooled off considerably on Thursday, making 19 of 57 shots overall and just three of 15 (20%) from long range.

Next up for the Argentinians is a game against Iran, a team they will be expected to beat easily, before Scola and Co go up against Russia.

For Croatia, Jasmin Repesa’s team will take on the Lithuanians and in their last Group A game, the Iranians.

Both teams will be anxious hopeful of winning their last two contests to avoid coming in fourth. The team that does that is like to go into a quarter-final against the United States – the favourites to win Group B.

FIBA