Inside The Thunder

FIBA Recap: OKC Thunder Stats, Scores and Highlights From Aug. 25 Slate

How did Australia, Canada and Latvia fare in today’s games with Thunder representation?
Inside The Thunder Staff|
FIBA Recap: OKC Thunder Stats, Scores and Highlights From Aug. 25 Slate
FIBA Recap: OKC Thunder Stats, Scores and Highlights From Aug. 25 Slate

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Oklahoma City Thunder

Group play at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup kicked off today, as each of the five Oklahoma City Thunder representatives took the floor. All of them had solid performances, especially Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, who are the headliners for their respective teams.

There were three games today that featured members of the Thunder, as Canada, Australia and Latvia each pulled off blowout victories.

Australia (98) | Finland (72)

Although Australia got off to a slow start, the second quarter was where things really turned around. Giddey was on pace for a potential triple-double at halftime and ultimately just missed the mark. He was still fantastic in his debut, facilitating the offense and ensuring the team earned a victory. 

As it relates to Thunder players, Giddey led the team in rebounds (9) and assists (8) to go along with 14 points. While he was a +18 in the box score, that wasn't the highest mark on them. Those honors go to fellow Thunder teammate Jack White, who posted a +25, which was the best of any Australian player. White finished with seven points, two rebounds and an assist, but was clearly an impact player.

Australia is now 1-0 in group play, with two more contests remaining against Germany and Japan in this round.

Latvia (109) | Lebanon (70) 

Latvia is a team that can get hot in a hurry, especially from beyond the arc. This is a team that takes and makes a ton of 3-pointers, which fits the way Davis Bertans wants to play. The new addition to the Thunder roster stands at 6-foot-10 and really helped set the tone early in this 39-point victory for Latvia.

Bertans finished with 10 points in just 17 minutes, converting on three of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. As this tournament goes on, expect him to play more minutes and continue making a significant impact for Latvia.

Latvia is now 1-0 in group play, with two more contests remaining against France and Canada in this round.

Canada (95) | France (65)

This was one of the most anticipated matchups of the day, as both squads have the talent to win it all. With that in mind, Canada absolutely dominated behind the brilliance of Gilgeous-Alexander. This was his FIBA World Cup debut, and was one of the best in history. It was a significant game for Canada, which is a country that continues to rise as one of the best in the world in terms of talent. With Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm, it appears they are ready to emerge.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while shooting 50% from the floor. He was also solid defensively, helping to shut France down and holding them under 70 points total. Lu Dort was also a helpful piece, producing seven points, five rebounds and two steals. 

Canada is now 1-0 in group play, with two more contests remaining against Lebanon and Latvia in this round.

Each of these three teams will be back in action on Sunday, with a trio of games set to take place. All five Thunder players will look to build upon their strong initial performances. 

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