Argentina vs. Brazil: Scores, Updates, Results and More

Argentina and Brazil renew their rivalry as they take to the hardwood in the second round of the FIBA Americas tournament. The game is being played in Argentina on Tuesday, September 7th at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

This game is all about seeding and bragging rights.

Both squads have already secured their place in the semifinals. But it is going to be important to get the higher seed. The top two teams from this tournament earn births in the 2012 London Games. Meanwhile, the third to fifth place teams will be forced to try to make it to the Olympics via a qualifying tournament.

Argentina is a perfect 6-0, while Brazil is 5-1. Brazil's lone blemish came in a loss to a talented Dominican Republic team that has also secured their semifinals position.

These are two evenly matched teams that have gotten to know each other and built a rivalry in the process. They have split their last four games. Brazil won the last game between these two 76-67 in the 2010 FIBA Americas tournament.

Argentina features a roster full of NBA players. They are led in scoring by the Spurs' Manu Ginobli, but it is Louis Scola that may be their MVP.

Scola does a little of everything for Argentina. He is an adept scorer, fierce rebounder and hard-nosed defender.

Scola is likely to be guarded by Brazil's Tiago Splitter. Splitter, who also plays for the Spurs, has been a force inside. He is not the best scorer on the team, but he is a workhorse and their defensive leader.

Check this blog often as we update and discuss any news and results from this game.

3:35 AM ET

Argentina vs. Brazil: Argentina's Hopes Dwindle with Loss of Game and Nocioni

Argentina lost their first game in the FIBA Americas tournament, and possibly a lot more. Brazil won bragging rights and the edge to a better seed with a thrilling 73-71 victory, but Argentina's biggest loss didn't come at the sound of the final buzzer. It came on the opening tip.

Andres Nocioni jumped for the opening tip, and when he landed he didn't find the ground. He found Tiago Splitter's foot. Nocioni rolled his ankle and didn't play the remainder of the game.

Nocioni will likely be out for Thursday's game against the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic have been playing fantastic. If they beat Argentina on Thursday, they could also vault past Argentina in the seedings.

There is also the very real possibility that Nocioni won't be available for the semifinals on Saturday, or any other game this tournament.

The semifinals game is going to be vital. Win in the semifinals, and a team earns a birth to the 2012 London games. Lose, and they will have to advance via the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Nocioni or not, this was an impressive win for Brazil. Tiago Splitter was in foul trouble for this game and spent much of the game on the bench. When he did play, he was ineffective. Splitter was 0-for-7 from the field.

Rafael Hettsheimer filled in and picked up the slack. He scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting. He also hauled in eight rebounds in just 22 minutes.

The key for Brazil in this game was their perimeter defense. Brazil held Manu Ginobili and Pablo Prigioni, who had been on firs, to 3-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

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