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We showed you Tuesday the series dunks Timberwolves phenom Andrew Wiggins has been throwing down on inferior opponents at the FIBA Americas tournament, but the young star is inching closer to leading his home country of Canada back to the Olympics for the first time since the turn of the century.
Wiggins scored 17 points to lead Canada over Mexico, 94-73, in Mexico City Wednesday night. It was Mexico’s first loss of the Olympic qualifying tournament and it pushed Canada into a tie with Mexico for second place in the tournament’s standings.
Andrew Wiggins is 4-4 from 3 point line tonight. Really looks confident. This is big next step in his game.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) September 9, 2015
Canada has already secured a spot in the semifinals, meaning they’re one victory on Friday away from receiving an automatic bid to the 2016 Rio Olympics. If they place third, fourth or fifth they will clinch a spot in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“He’s a great player,” Canadian coach Jay Triano said of Wiggins, according to TSN. “Rookie of the year in the NBA. He’s adapted and fit into anything that we’ve asked him to do with our team here. Because of that he’s become one of our leaders, a guy we can run plays for or put him in situations where he can make plays for others.”
Wiggins and Canada have one final second-round game Wednesday night against Dominican Republic, which will help determine who they play in the semifinals Friday.
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