Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Canada to Crucial Opening Victory Over France
It was fair to be skeptical of the Canadian Senior Men’s Basketball team.
Despite all the talent on paper, all the NBA players on the roster, it was fair to wonder if the Canadians would be able to put it all together. It wasn’t all that long ago that they came up short in a do-or-die game against the Czech Republic that ended their Olympic dreams in 2021.
Friday, though, showed this isn’t the same Canadian team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company knocked off the world’s fifth-ranked French squad 95-65 in a crucial opening game victory at the FIBA World Cup.
The French had been Canada’s most intimidating group-stage opponent. Even without the same on-paper talent, nobody was underestimating the French who’d entered the tournament on the heels of silver medals at the 2020 Olympics and 2022 EuroBasket tournament.
For a little while, it looked dicey for the Canadians. Even with Dillon Brooks and Luguentz Dort whizzing around on defense, Evan Fournier looked borderline unstoppable in the first half. He dropped 18 of his 21 points before halftime, nailing a driving layup to put the French up by seven in the second quarter.
But eventually, Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he’s among the most talented young players in the game. After a Brooks three opened the second half, Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 13 points of his game-high 27 points in the third quarter, nailing a deep three-pointer to put the Canadians up 15. When Kelly Olynyk, the captain of the team, nailed a pick-and-pop three of his own, the route was on.
Canada never looked back after outscoring the French 25-8 in the third and pulled ahead by 31 before emptying the bench in the fourth quarter with two minutes to go.
Olynyk had 18 points while Brooks and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in with 12 each.
With the victory, Canada moves atop their group with two more group-stage games scheduled for Sunday morning at 5:45 a.m. ET against Lebanon and 9:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday against Latvia.
