Basketball: Team GB do double on Portugal

GREAT Britain cruised to a second straight victory over Portugal in as many days as they continued their Olympic preparations in Sheffield yesterday.

Following Saturday’s 83-68 win, GB turned in a more rounded performance to win 86-66 yesterday with big contributions off the bench.

After Great Britain forged an early 4-0 lead, Portugal fought back to go 9-4 ahead, but Britain 
soon re-established their authority to end the first quarter 21-14 to the good.

When the impressive Kieron Achara nailed another three, Britain were up 28-16, and a big dunk from Pops Mensah-Bonsu made it 37-18. Back-to-back threes from Joao Santos and Mario Fernandes kept Portugal alive, but they trailed 46-29 at the break.

Britain continued to edge clear in the second quarter, leading by 20 when Nate Reinking’s three-pointer made it 57-37, although Portugal were still in at 61-45 at the end of the third quarter.

Eric Boateng made a major impression with nine quick points early in the final quarter, as it went 70-50.

Kyle Johnson then came off the bench to help push the lead to 24, at 81-57, midway through the final quarter, and the hosts went on to close out an 86-66 victory. Johnson finished as the leading scorer with 21 points, while Luol Deng had 14 and Boateng netted 11.