:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/19210353/20130909andrewnicholsonshoot_mike_ehrmanngetty.0.jpg)
Canada's FIBA Americas journey ended Sunday with a 73-67 loss to Argentina, eliminating it from the tournament and, by extension, from qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. However, Orlando Magic power forward Andrew Nicholson had a strong showing, finishing as Canada's second-leading scorer with 15 points per game.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Mins | Pts | Rebs | Asts | Stls | Blks | TOs | FGs | 3FGs | FTs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 August | Jamaica | W, 85-64 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3/7 | 0/2 | 1/1 |
| 31 August | Puerto Rico | L, 83-67 | 22 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7/13 | 1/2 | 6/6 |
| 1 September | Brazil | W, 91-62 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3/8 | 1/3 | 6/6 |
| 3 September | Uruguay | W, 93-67 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7/8 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
| 5 September | Mexico | W, 89-67 | 15 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5/9 | 2/3 | 1/2 |
| 6 September | Venezuela | L, 64-59 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1/3 | 0/1 | 0/0 |
| 7 September | Dominican Republic | L, 81-74 | 35 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 12/19 | 3/7 | 2/2 |
| 8 September | Argentina | L, 73-67 | 29 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8/20 | 0/1 | 1/1 |
| TOTAL | 162 | 120 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 46/87 | 10/22 | 18/19 | ||
| AVERAGE | 20.3 | 15.0 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 52.9% | 45.5% | 94.7% | ||
Though Nicholson wasn't a factor on the glass--a shortcoming of his which history suggests he is unlikely to improve--the 23-year-old Nichoslon nonetheless demonstrated that he could carry an offense in high-level international competition.
Nicholson finished the FIBA Americas as his team's second-leading scorer despite ranking fifth in minutes. His limitations defensively and on the glass appear to have affected his playing time in the FIBA Americas as they did as a rookie, but he was nonetheless extremely effective in his area of expertise.
Nicholson averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Magic in his rookie season. The 19th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft ranked second on Orlando in points per minute and in True Shooting Percentage, using his reliable mid-range set shot and his refined low-post footwork to create good shots with great consistency. His continued growth on the offensive end will certainly aid the Magic, which finished the 2012/13 NBA season with the league's worst record and fourth-worst offense.
The FIBA Americas caps Nicholson's long summer with the Canadian national team, for which he averaged 15 points on 54.8 percent shooting in four Tuto Marchand Continental Cup games and 11 points on 31 percent shooting in the two-game Jack Donohue International Classic.
Per a message Nicholson posted on his Twitter account Sunday night, he'll return to the City Beautiful on Monday. The Magic begin training camp on October 1st at Amway Center.