Messina-led Team World edges out Team Africa 96-92 in NBA Africa Game

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Project Spurs illustration/Spurs

Earlier today, the Ettore Messina-coached Team World needed a big game from Danilo Gallinari as they went down to the wire before claiming victory over Team Africa in Pretoria, South Africa for the third NBA Africa game.

The game signaled the end of a week of events, including a Basketball Without Borders Camp and other events in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Spurs forward and Team World captain Rudy Gay played 25 minutes but struggled with his shot as he finished with three points on 1-for-8 shooting and 0-for-3 from deep. However, he also contributed four rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

As it was just an exhibition game, and we are still well over a month away from training camps starting, I wouldn’t look at this game as any sort of gauge or give it much consideration at all.

Team Africa, led by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, was made up of players born in Africa or with family ties to Africa, while Team World was made up of players from the rest of the world, many of which came from the United States.

Gallinari’s 23 points, including a late-game stepback three to give Team World a cushion down the stretched, earned him Manute Bol MVP honors. Embiid finished with 24 points and eight rebounds.

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