Pacers reserve center Ian Mahinmi is a happy man.
FIBA World Cup play concludes on Sunday, Sept. 14 with the championship game.
Although he re-injured his left shoulder just a few days before the start of the 2014 FIBA World Cup and had to leave the French National Team, his native country posted a stunning win Wednesday.
France knocked off Spain, the favorite and host country, 65-52. Pau Gasol sank a jumper to draw Spain within three points with 2:08 to play — and then they were held scoreless for the rest of the game. France scored the final 10 points in a surprise win that sends them into the Final Four.
On Thursday, the United States plays Lithuania. The following day, France takes on Serbia. The World Cup title game then will be played on Sunday.
Though Mahinmi isn’t with his team because of the injury – which he told VigilantSports.com is “not as bad as everybody thought it would be” and does not require surgery – he is still following along closely.
“Boom!!!!!!,” Mahinmi tweeted. “I don’t know about you guys but im having a great day so far. See you guys Friday france vs Serbia !!!!”
Pacers in World Cup Play:
Damjan Rudež and Croatia fell in the round of 16 to France, 69-64. In a little more than 14 minutes per game, Rudež averaged 5.2 points. He struggled shooting the ball — just 30.0 percent from the field, including 30.8 percent from deep.
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Luis Scola’s Argentina team was knocked out by Brazil, 85-75, also in the round of 16. Scola was second in the tournament in scoring, averaging 19.5 points per game on 48.2 percent shooting.