Canada was hoping to start off the FIBA Americas championship with a win over Argentina on Tuesday, but they lost 94-87. Argentina was once again led by Toronto Raptors new big man Luis Scola, who dominated the third quarter against the young Canadians. From Josh Lewenberg of TSN:

"The 35-year-old forward was excited to see a TSN mic held up to his face in the Mixed Zone, where players from both teams pass through on their way back to the locker room. Scola will suit up for the Raptors this coming season, his ninth in the NBA, and his family is just getting settled in Toronto, having arrived there yesterday. His kids were looking forward to watching Tuesday's game among the Canadians, but he had cautioned them not to cheer Argentina on too loudly. Was he feeling pressure to put on a show for them? He chuckled. Pressure? Scola? Come on. ... Scola has medaled seven times at the FIBA Americas Championship, including two golds, and has won three tournament MVP awards. Always cool as a cucumber, the Argentine kept firing away and by the third quarter he was carrying the team on his broad shoulders, picking Canada apart and giving them a not-so-warm welcome to an event that might as well put his face on the trophy. ... 'Nobody is invincible,' said Scola, who scored 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his second double-double in as many days to open the Olympic qualifying tournament. 'Canada is not invincible, we proved that today. But they're still contenders. Nothing's changed.' No, it's not the end of the world, provided Canada uses their opening day loss as a reality check."

Scola signed a one-year contract, paying $2.9 million, with the Raptors on July 13 and he will come off the bench as a backup at the power forward and center positions.