In an effort to best position itself for an Olympic berth, Canada strategically rested Steve Nash for 30 of the 40 minutes of Monday's loss to Team USA. Mexico probably cost itself a berth by not giving its best player even a minute off.

An exhausted Eduardo Najera went the distance in a 98-95 loss to Argentina on Tuesday at Roberto Clement Coliseum. The defeat realistically eliminates Mexico's chances of finishing in the top three at the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and earning a trip to Athens next summer.

Najera, who scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, felt Mexico could have pulled out the win had he been fresher down the stretch.

"I asked for a sub, and he didn't want to take me out," said Najera, referring to Mexican coach Guillermo Vecchio. "If I would have gotten a nice little break, I probably would have played better in the second half."

For Mexico to qualify for the medal round, it has to beat Team USA today and Brazil on Thursday.

Najera isn't sure how much he'll play in the next two games, if at all. He promised Mavericks owner Mark Cuban he wouldn't play and risk injury if Mexico wasn't in Olympic contention.

"I haven't decided if I'll play," Najera said. "It's probably best I don't."