Canada Throttles France With Help of Mavs' Dwight Powell
Canada's opening match at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup featured a tough opponent in France, but the result didn't suggest as much. Canada achieved a 95-65 victory, sending a major statement to the rest of the teams competing at the World Cup.
“It felt good,” said Shai Gilgous-Alexander. “Most importantly, we got a dub. We won, did what we came here to do. Still only one game. We got a lot to accomplish and look forward to, but it's a good start.”
The first half was competitive with seven lead changes and Canada only holding a three-point edge at the break. However, a takeover from Gilgeous-Alexander in the second half with 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter, along with tightened up defense from the unit, fueled Canada to a 20-point lead. Canada never looked back.
“You guys can see here a guy that is gonna be the MVP of this World Cup,” Canada coach Jordi Fernandez said of his star, who was sitting beside him at the post-game podium. “But it's, again, just one game. He's gonna do it again next game, and next game, and the next game.”
France was contained to a staggeringly low total of eight points in the third quarter, resulting in a 19-point scoring differential for Canada within the frame.
Many consider France as being a top team, even being ranked in some power rankings as the second-best team in all of the World Cup before competition began. With Rudy Gobert anchoring the defense without worrying about three-seconds violations, he tends to pose major challenges and sets the tone.
“We played really good basketball today. We did the right things on both ends of the court for the most part of the game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "And we know that when we do that and play to our identity and the things that we've been preaching for the last month, that we can beat and play with anyone in the world. We just got to continue to get better, and the sky's the limit.”
The Dallas Mavericks were represented in this game with Dwight Powell starting alongside Kelly Olynyk in the frontcourt. Powell finished with six points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 23 minutes.
During the minutes that Powell was on the court, Canada outscored France by a 35-point margin, which proved to be the best plus/minus among all of the team's players. Competing against Gobert didn't pose as significant of a challenge as anticipated, given France was outscored by 17 points in his 27 minutes.
In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 27 points, he added 13 rebounds and six assists. Canada also received 18 points form Olynyk, along with 12 points each from Dillon Brooks and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Canada’s next match will occur on Sunday against Lebanon.
Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
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