GER - Germany fall to Canada as Nowitzki scores just eight points

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HAMBURG (FIBA World Championship) - Dirk Nowitzki was far from his NBA superstar form as Germany lost to Canada in a friendly on Friday night.

Carl English from VidiVici Bologna scored 18 points and Jermaine Bucknor added 12 as the North American side, who went on a decisive 16-2 run in the fourth quarter to take control, won 73-68.

Nowitzki, who only just joined the national team for the first time this summer, had eight points. Ademola Okulaja, unable to play last year on Germany's silver-medal winning team at the EuroBasket, paced the hosts with 21 points in his comeback.

The Germans, out-rebounded 46-24 in the contest, managed just three baskets over the final 7:30. They were still within striking distance until 7.7 seconds remained when Bucknor's two free throws iced the game.

"It was clear that we had a tough job finding our rhythm out there," said Germany coach Dirk Bauermann. "We didn't have the blind understanding of where the other guys would be. And the legs were also tired.

"But you can't over-interpret these things. It's the beginning of a long process."

Nowitzki struggled to find his game after just one day of practice with the team following the death of his grandmother. The seven-footer, who led the Dallas Mavericks into the NBA Finals this season where they lost to Miami 4-2 in the series, missed his first five shots from the field and shot just two for 12 in the game.

Nowitzki did not score his first point until he made a free throw with 17.8 seconds in the first half. His first basket was a jumper from the left wing with 5:25 left in third.

"You saw out there that he had a longer break," Bauermann said. "It's his first game in about four weeks. And for somebody who is used to playing four days a week, that's tough.

"Plus, he's learning the system and new team-mates. It takes a while. But all in all, he's just human."

The game was Germany's first warm-up as they prepare for next month's FIBA World Championship in Japan. After playing Canada again on Sunday, they will take part in the Berlin Supercup August 4-5 with France, Italy and Turkey. 

Canada and Germany started the game cold, but the hosts used a 6-0 run to open a 13-8 lead after seven minutes. Canada took advantage of Germany's inexperienced bench as English, Bucknor and Levon Kendall - the star of Canada's team at the FIBA U21 World Championship in Argentina last year - all hit three-pointers in an 11-4 Canada run to lead 19-17 after one quarter.

The Canadians, without Nowitzki's former Dallas team-mate Steve Nash and using a squad dominated by US and Canadian college players, pulled ahead 27-22 midway through the second. But Okulaja scored five straight points to even things at 27-27. Germany went into the locker room ahead 32-30.

Canada scored the first five points of the second half only to see Germany go on an 18-4 tear to pull away to 50-39 late in the third quarter. Germany held a 52-42 advantage going into the final period.

Canada closed to within 52-47 before Germany pushed back in front 58-49 on Nowitzki's four-point play wtih 7:30 remaining. Jermaine Anderson hit back-to-back three-pointers to give Canada a 60-58 lead with five minutes left in the game and then Bucknor's three-pointer extended that lead to 65-60 with 2:30 to play.

Okulaja, playing for Germany for  the first time in two years, trimmed the deficit to three points with two free throws just 1:13 from the end. But an English basket pushed the lead up to seven at 69-62 with 35 seconds remaining and the Canadians held on.

Germany, who will face Spain, New Zealand, Panama, Angola and hosts Japan in Group B in Hiroshima at the FIBA World Championship, will get another shot at the Canadians on Sunday in Nuremberg.

Bauermann expects to see a different Nowitzki.

"As I know him, he will have a great game against Canada because that's the type of person he is," Bauermann said. "He doesn't want to have two bad games back-to-back."

Canada last year failed to qualify for the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

From David Hein
PA Sport, Hamburg Exclusively for FIBA