(Jakarta) Canada has never won a World Cup basketball medal. France were among the favorites to win one this year.
After a match between the two teams, the predictions changed.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 27 points as Canada capitalized on a productive third quarter to upset France 95-65 at the Basketball World Cup.
Canada led by three points at halftime and then took control of the game by dominating the third quarter 25-8. France, who had never lost to Canada at the World Cup, were outscored 52-25 in the second half by a side that looked set to take on the best in the world.
Gilgeous-Alexander added 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Captain Kelly Olynyk contributed 18 points, four rebounds and a block.
“We wanted to impose our style and do the right things at both ends of the field,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. We didn’t have the expected start to the game, but we got our bearings little by little. When things clicked, it worked well until the end of the encounter.
“We’ve been saying it for a month, we can beat anybody when we play within our means. »
Montrealer Luguentz Dort, teammate of Gilgeous-Alexander with the Oklahoma City Thunder, had seven points and five rebounds.
Evan Fournier was France’s most productive player, ranked fifth in the world and a silver medalist at the recent Tokyo Olympics. He had 21 points, including 19 in the first half.
“They played physical play, preventing us from executing our prepared plays,” Fournier said. They forced us to try things we didn’t want to do. »
Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez praised the defensive work as the offense struggled early in the game.
“It was our defensive play that kept us in the game,” Fernandez said. In the second half, we continued to defend well, then the balls started to fall into the basket. »
Canada, 15th in the world, will play its next game on Sunday against Lebanon, 43rd.
