Former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins hit a 3-pointer to help lead a pair of comebacks during Canada’s FIBA Qualifying Tournament Game against the Czech Republic on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams came into Saturday’s game needing a victory for a chance to advance to the 2020 Olympics. The Czech Republic was in great shape to keep their dream alive holding a 92-82 lead with 57 seconds remaining but the Canadians went on a 9-2 run that was fueled by a key three-point play by Wiggins.
After Wiggins sank a free-throw to make it a 94-91 game, Canada stole the inbounds pass and tossed the ball back to Wiggins, who made an off-balance 3-pointer to send the game to overtime.
Andrew Wiggins DRILLS it to force OT for Canada 🇨🇦
(via @FIBA)
pic.twitter.com/ODvjR84jaP— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 3, 2021
Wiggins continued his clutch play in overtime, hitting a jumper to tie the game at 101 and finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. But the Czech Repbulic had the last laugh when Tomas Satoransky banked the game-winning bucket to advance to the final of the qualifying tournament.
🇨🇿 @satoransky banks it to give Czech Republic the win over Canada in OT and advance to the #FIBAOQT Final! pic.twitter.com/b6rrI4SFuu
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 3, 2021
While many won’t shed too many tears over Canada not qualifying for Tokyo, Wiggins’ performance is enough to make Timberwolves fans pull their hair out.
During his six seasons in Minnesota, Wiggins showed flashes like this but never realized his potential as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. With Wiggins unable (or perhaps unwilling) to take over games, the Timberwolves traded him and the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft to the Golden State Warriors for D’Angelo Russell in February 2020.
That trade could continue to haunt the Wolves as they look to add another superstar to their roster this summer but seeing Wiggins take over a game as he did on Saturday is another reminder of what could have been.
