Eurobasket: Serbia vs Germany; FIBA Americas: Canada vs. Panama

Well, at least there is basketball worth watching even if we are still almost two months away from the NBA season. Both Serbia, featuring Nemanja Bjelica, and Canada, with Andrew Wiggins and Antony Bennett are in action to day, with both games available streaming on ESPN3.

Serbia vs. Germany
8:00 am CDT
ESPN3

Dirk Nowitzki is once again playing with the German national team, and led them to an opening game victory against Iceland. Serbia beat Spain yesterday in the match up of probably the two strongest teams in the group, and Nemanja Bjelica was spectacular, leading the Serbs with a 24 and 10 double-double, adding in four assists and hitting two huge threes in the 4th quarter to hold off a Spain run. His ball-handling, driving, shooting, and passing abilities were all on display in yesterday's contest, and it really whets the appetite to see him in a Wolves jersey.

Here are his highlights from yesterday (h/t The Muppeteer)

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Canada vs. Panama
6:00 pm CDT
ESPN3

Meanwhile, the Canadians move on to the second stage of the FIBA Americas tournament, having won three of their four opening group games. Now they play the four teams who advanced from the other group, with their points carrying over (except for their win against a now eliminated team).  Following this stage, which will take place with 4 games over the next 4 days, the top four teams will head to the semifinals.

Andrew Wiggins is leading Canada with 15 points per game through the first four games, and continues to get to the free throw line with regularity (over 7 FTAs per game so far). Bennett has had his moments both scoring and rebounding, including some emphatic dunks, and continues to try to build confidence.

After a desolate basketball-less summer (I don't count Summer League), it's nice to have some games to pay attention to again.

Talk about them here.