FIBA Basketball World Cup Memorable Moments: Nowitzki's heroics against Angola

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There have been a lot of games that Dirk Nowitzki played in over the years that had fairy tale endings with the Dallas Mavericks, the only NBA club he's played for.

With Germany, Nowitzki has also had a lifetime's worth of incredible performances.

Remember the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, when as a 24-year-old he led his country to a bronze medal?

He averaged a tournament-best 24 points per game and had 29 in the 117-94 romp over New Zealand that gave Germany a spot on the podium.

Four years later at the World Championship in Japan, Nowitzki was almost as dominant with his 23.2 points per game average second only to China center Yao Ming's 25.3.

While Germany made it only as far as the Quarter-Finals and lost to the United States, Nowitzki did put his stamp on the event that had been expanded from 16 to 24 teams.

A game that international basketball fans will never forget, Germany's Preliminary Round clash with Angola, is one of the most memorable basketball games in the history of the competition.

Both sides went into the contest that was played in Hiroshima with three wins in their first four games.

The game would decide second place in the group.

Germany needed three overtimes but won, 108-103, as Nowitzki poured in a jaw-dropping 47 points.

Nowitzki buried a three-pointer to force the second overtime and then made two free throws to tie the game at 95-95 after two overtimes.

He then took over the third extra session, scoring 11 of Germany's 13 points.

Germany's coach at the time, Dirk Bauermann, said: "What am I going to say that you didn't see out there? That's competitive greatness. He gives you your best when you need it most."

Nowitzki was all smiles after.

"Everything that happens in a game like this is fun," Nowitzki said.

"In a long tournament like this you always need games that push the team.

"Hopefully this is one of them."

Nowitzki's output equalled the 47 points scored by Drazen Petrovic for Yugoslavia in their win over the Netherlands in 1986.

That total ranks fifth all-time in a World Championship.

The most ever scored in a single game were the 62 by Jae Hur of Korea in 1990.

FIBA