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Written by Demetris Nellas, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Sunday, 20 July 2008 |
Steffen Hamman of Germany jumps to dunk the ball as players of Puerto Rico look on during a basketball game for FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament at the indoor Olympic arena in Athens on Sunday, July 20, 2008. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Thanassis Stavrakis
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ATHENS, Greece - Germany won the final spot in the 12-team Olympic basketball tournament, getting 32 points from Dirk Nowitzki on Sunday in a 96-82 victory over Puerto Rico.
Croatia and Greece earned the other two men's berths at stake in this qualifying tournament a day earlier.
Jose Barea, who plays with Nowitzki on the Dallas Mavericks, led Puerto Rico with 18 points.
Germany drew on its outside shooting to take a 48-39 halftime lead. Three consecutive 3-pointers within 46 seconds - two by Robert Garrett, one by Demond Greene - stretched the lead to 70-54 with 1:48 left in the third period. The Puerto Ricans came no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Steffen Hamann had 19 points for Germany and Greene added 15, while Chris Kaman, who was granted German citizenship earlier this month, had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
But it was Nowitzki who earned most of the praise from Germany coach Dirk Bauermann.
"He played like a man possessed," Bauermann said. "He played tremendous defence as well. He is one of the top three players in the world and I'm very happy for him."
Germany and Greece were placed in Group B for the Beijing tournament, which already included hosts China, the United States, Spain and Angola. Croatia was placed in Group A with Iran, Lithuania, Argentina, Russia and Australia.
The top four from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, with the winner in each group meeting the fourth-placed team in the other and the runner-up facing the third-place team.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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