“Lionel Messi finally won an international trophy and Nigeria rocked international basketball”: NBA Twitter reacts to Team USA losing exhibition home game to Nigeria as Kevin Durant, Zach LaVine throw up bricks

Team USA Basketball lost a home game to Nigeria basketball tonight. Kevin Durant bricked a ton of shots as Lionel Messi lifted the Copa America.

It was pandemonium on Twitter after an incredible day for sports all around. Lionel Messi concluded his 16-year-long quest of winning an international trophy with the Argentine senior national team on one side.

His Argentina team took an early lead through Angel di Maria. They then held off wave after wave of Brazil attacks to take home a 1-0 lead. This trophy marks the end of a long and painful trophyless period for the South American powerhouses as well.

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Messi’s magnificent CV can now finally be considered complete by those who nitpick international football trophies.

NBA Twitter reacts to Lionel Messi winning Copa America and Nigeria beating Team USA

There was, however, a segment of sports fans that also tuned into the exhibition game between USA vs Nigeria. And the manner of the West African powerhouse’s win was indeed a sight to behold.

Nigeria rained over 20 3-pointers on the night. Their interior defenders in Metu and Precious Achiuwa were on point, smothering a number of layups and dunk attempts. Achiuwa had a particularly memorable block on a dunk attempt by Durant.

Nigeria were 30(!) point underdogs against Team USA basketball tonight. They won the game outright. pic.twitter.com/bDE0AGiMlI

— USSportsbonus (@ussportsbonus) July 11, 2021

Lionel Messi finally won a trophy in an Argentina shirt, against Neymar’s Brazil no less, and there was no time to see a second-half kick with Nigeria rocking the world of international basketball.

A score you still can’t believe when you read it: Nigeria 90, United States 87

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 11, 2021

seriously, though, this was only 9 years ago. the olympic record for the biggest margin of victory ever. for them to come this far this quick, exhibition or not, is ridic impressive. pic.twitter.com/HqgRxOZkAZ

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) July 11, 2021

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Heading into Saturday, the USA was 54-2 in exhibition games since professionals started playing in 1992. Nine years ago, the USA beat Nigeria by 83 points in the London Olympics. pic.twitter.com/eKYd6t5cEQ

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 11, 2021

It seems that Team USA needs a better playmaker in charge of the ball to get their offense going. Their defense is going to get better with repetitions, but they’ll definitely need an organizer on offense.

About the author

Amulya Shekhar

Amulya Shekhar is a sports junkie who thrives on the thrills and frills of live sports action across basketball, football (the American variant works too), parkour, adventure sports. He believes sports connect us to our best selves, and he hopes to help people experience sports more holistically.

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