NBA News 2010: Tiago Splitter and the Spurs: A Match Made in Heaven

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As a huge Spurs fan, I was very excited to find out that Tiago Splitter was finally making his way to San Antonio and it couldn't be at a better time. Watching Splitter represent Brazil, and doing so with the grace of a 6'10" gazelle, has made me even more excited.

Splitter comes to an experienced, championship team with an organization known for being one of the elite. With all the veterans resting up this off-season and not representing their home country in the World Championships this summer, everybody should be at one hundred percent. At least the big three.

The move will especially help "The Big Fundamental" Tim Duncan and his aging knees. Duncan is not a true center but he has been playing one since David Robinson retired in 2003. He can now play his natural position of power forward and will even get some more resting time with Splitter on the roster.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/469961-tiago-splitter-and-the-spurs-a-match-made-in-heaven

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NBA News 2010: Argentina reaches worlds quarters

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Luis Scola scored 37 points, carrying Argentina to a thrilling 93-89 victory over Brazil on Tuesday and into the quarterfinals of the world championship.

Carlos Delfino of the Milwaukee Bucks added 20 points and Hernan Jasen scored eight of his 15 in the fourth quarter for Argentina, which avoided what would have been an unusually early exit from an international tournament.

Marcelo Huertas scored 32 points and Leandro Barbosa had 20 for Brazil, which lost its third close game of the tournament.

Argentina took the lead for good at 77-74 on Leonardo Gutierrez's 3-pointer with 6:39 remaining, but Brazil was always within two possessions. Scola kept knocking down jumpers or scoring inside until Delfino made two free throws for a 91-86 lead with 7.6 seconds to play.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=5542874

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NBA News 2010: Kevin Durant's 27 points help U.S. squeak past Leandro Barbosa, Brazil

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ISTANBUL -- The shot bounced off the back rim, then the front, then finally fell out.

With that, the United States walked off the court with a victory, and another warning: A world championship won't come easily for this young team -- if it comes at all.

The Americans survived their first tough test in Turkey, edging Brazil 70-68 on Monday when Leandro Barbosa's shot rattled out at the buzzer.

"This game right here was an eye opener," U.S. guard Derrick Rose said.

Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 15 for the Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But they have bigger goals than a group championship, trying to end a 16-year U.S. drought in this event.

After the Americans trailed most of the first 2½ quarters, Lamar Odom's dunk with 7:14 left put them ahead 64-62. But they couldn't build on the lead during a tense final few minutes, and Brazil had two chances to send the game to overtime.

Barbosa finished with 14 points after a strong start for Brazil (2-1). Marcus Vinicius scored 16, and Tiago Splitter had 13 points and 10 rebounds while battling foul trouble in the second half.

With NBA big men Nene, Anderson Varejao and Splitter, Brazil was considered one of the teams with enough size to topple the undersized Americans. Nene had to pull out with an injury and Varejao sat out again while continuing to rest a sprained right ankle, so the Brazilians turned to a speed game to lead for much of the game.

They just couldn't finish the upset, leaving the Americans needing only a victory over Iran or Tunisia, the bottom two teams in Group B, or another Brazil loss to earn the top seed from the group and three full days off before meeting the No. 4 seed from Group A on Sept. 6.

http://espn.go.com/extra/fiba/recap?id=300832917

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