Top Olympic Hoops Performances

SI Staff | Aug 22, 2008

Top Olympic Hoops Performances

Luis Scola

AP

Several players have produced standout games during the men's tournament, headlined by Luis Scola's 37-point outburst in Argentina's 91-79 victory against Russia in group play. The Houston Rockets' power forward made 12-of-16 from the field and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line, and added eight rebounds while playing the entire 40 minutes.

Andrei Kirilenko

John W. McDonough/SI

The Utah Jazz forward's versality was on full display against Lithuania. Kirilenko (right) finished with 17 points, six rebounds, six assists, six steals and three blocks in 39 minutes. The stat line wasn't all good, though, as AK-47 missed nine of his 19 free-throw attempts in an 86-79 loss by Russia, arguably the tournament's biggest disappointment.

Manu Ginobili

AP

It should have come as no surprise to NBA fans that Ginobili played big in Argentina's 80-78 victory against Greece in the quarterfinals. The San Antonio Spurs' dynamic shooting guard equaled the tournament high with six three-pointers (teammate Carlos Delfino added five of his own) and scored 24 points in 33 minutes as the defending Olympic champions held off a well-respected Greek team.

LeBron James

John W. McDonough/SI

What was supposed to be Team USA's toughest test in pool play -- a matchup with reigning world champion Spain -- turned into a 119-82 rout in good part because of LeBron, who showed off his all-court brilliance with 18 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals in 28 minutes.

Yao Ming

John W. McDonough/SI

Yao helped set up the Chinese to advance out of pool play by dominating Angola with 30 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three assists in 31 minutes. The Houston Rockets' center shot 10-for-11 from the field and 10-for-11 from the foul line in the 85-68 win.

Dwyane Wade

Pool/Getty Images

Wade was perfect in the Americans' 101-70 victory against China in the opener: 7-for-7 from the field and 5-for-5 from the foul line, for 19 points in only 20 minutes off the bench.

Sarunas Jasikevicius

John W. McDonough/SI

Jasikevicius, who played in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors, made 7-of-8 from the field (including 5-for-6 from beyond the arc) and scored 23 points to go with six assists as Lithuania knocked out host China 94-68 in the quarterfinals.

Pau Gasol

AP

Gasol had a 13-of-16 shooting effort against China in his second game, but he was even more efficient from the field against Angola in his pool-play finale: 13-of-14, on his way to 31 points in only 24 minutes in a 98-50 win.