Rio Olympics: Jokic earns MVP as two Nuggets qualify

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Jan 25, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Hawks defeated the Nuggets 119-105. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Gallinari fouls out in fourth, Italy loses OT heartbreaker

In a thrilling Final match, Croatia and Italy needed more than forty minutes to decide who was going to punch their ticket to the Rio Olympics later this summer. Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari struggled shooting the ball throughout the tournament and Saturday’s Final against Croatia was no exception.

Gallo shot just 5/13 (38.5%) from the floor during Saturday’s game and finished 16/42 (38.1%) for the tournament. He finished tenth in the tournament scoring 11.2 points per game, but was an impressive second in rebounding, with 7.2 per game.

At certain points throughout the tournament, Gallo would look dominant — including a three-minute stretch early in the second half of the Final, in which he grabbed a pair of defensive rebounds, as well as scoring two layups through contact earning a couple of and-ones, both of which he converted.

Watch Gallo back his man down, move into the lane, then dish an excellent pass to his teammate for the flush in this clip from the Turin Final.

Gallo scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. With Italy and Croatia trading second-half leads, Gallo’s absence was too much for Italy to overcome in the extra frame.

Unfortunately, Gallo and the Italians fell just short in their bid for the Olympics and will have to wait at least four more years to realize their Olympic dream.

Next: Lauvergne, France advance to Rio

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