Sunday, August 25, 2002 11:40 PM (NEW!) << Miller sprains ankle in exhibition win Aug. 26, 2002 SportsLine.com wire reports PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jermaine O'Neal scored 15 points as the United States beat Germany 91-73 in an exhibition game Sunday night that proved costly when Reggie Miller sprained his right ankle. Miller, a five-time All-Star who plays for the Indiana Pacers, came down awkwardly on his ankle when he was fouled by Stefano Garris early in the third quarter. Miller did not return. The exhibition game was a tune-up for the World Championships starting Thursday in Indianapolis. All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks led Germany with 23 points. In the 2001 European championships, Nowitzki averaged a tournament-high 28.7 points and 9.1 rebounds as Germany qualified fourth to earn one of Europe's five World Championship berths. Nowitzki, Germany's lone representative in the NBA, put his team within five points in the third quarter, with a jumper at 4:30 that made it 50-45. Nowitzki made it close again in the fourth quarter with a dunk that cut it to 79-73 with just 2:19 to go. But the United States went on a 12-0 run, punctuated by Shawn Marion's slam, to end it. Marion and Michael Finley each added 14 points for the U.S. team. The United States controlled the tempo from the start, taking a 43-34 lead into the half and holding its German counterparts to just 27 percent shooting from the floor. Miller put the U.S. team up 41-28 with 1:19 to go before the half, but Nowitzki cut it to 41-32 with a pair of free throws and a layup. Miller, who turned 37 on Saturday, is the oldest member of the U.S. team and has won gold medals with the U.S. in the 1994 World Championships and the 1996 Olympics. In the first of their two exhibition games leading to the World Championships, the U.S. team beat China and 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming, the NBA's top draft pick. With the appeal of Ming's first North American appearance, that first exhibition game sold out the Coliseum Arena in Oakland, Calif. The game against Germany attracted considerably fewer fans to Portland's Rose Garden Arena, home of the Trail Blazers. An official attendance figures was not announced. Baron Davis, bothered by back spasms in practices Friday and Saturday, started Sunday night, and Elton Brand, who missed the exhibition against China with a mild right knee strain, had six points. AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Copyright 2002, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved >> -------------------------------------------- Poor Reggie. Dude is a cool cat, I hope he's alright
Jeez, Germany was within 6 in the 4th quarter with about 2 minutes to go? Germany isn't even the best foreign team in the world. The U.S. team better shape up and not take teams too lightly...or they could be in trouble against Yugoslavia. On the other hand, maybe a loss would be a good thing. It may propel the U.S.'s ultra-elite(Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Mcgrady, Garnett, etc etc.) into joining the competition at the 2004 Olympics.
I was at this game. It was quite a bit of fun. It really looked like Germany had a chance for a while there. Some of the dunks towards the end were absolutely spectacular. Still, this team looks beatable. I bet Yugoslavia will pull it off.
