Boston Celtics

Kelly Olynyk scores 34 in heartbreaking Eurobasket loss, wears sombrero

Published Sep. 15, 2015 8:30 a.m. ET

foxsports

Team Canada was heavily favored throughout the FIBA Americas Eurobasket tournament, but were eliminated by Venezuela over the weekend, ending their shot at an automatic Olympic bid.

But Boston Celtics fans aren't sad about it because Kelly Olynyk was that team's lone bright spot, scoring 34 points (on 13 shots) and grabbing 13 rebounds. It was a fantastic performance from the former lottery pick.

Here's CBS Boston's Brian Robb with more:

Olynyk also wore a sombrero, which is actually the real reason he played so well in Canada's biggest game of the summer.

(h/t: CBS Boston, Red's Army)

The 34-point performance in a crucial contest was one of the best games by any player in the tournament, highlighted by magnificent shooting (11-of-13 from the field) and stellar rebounding (13 boards). The career night was a fitting exclamation point on a solid two weeks of play by Olynyk in Mexico City. After a rusty effort in his return from a knee injury in Canada’s tournament opener against Argentina, Olynyk was one of his country’s most consistent performers throughout the tournament. The 24-year-old averaged 11.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game. He shot a scorching 60 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three-point range. Most of it came against inferior competition, but you can still chalk the play up as a strong step forward for the big man as he enters a crucial season with the Celtics.