Canada Advances to FIBA World Cup Semifinals with Win Over Slovenia
Canada’s basketball team continues to make waves in the FIBA World Cup, and they are now just one step away from their first-ever semifinals appearance. Led by a stellar performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada defeated Slovenia 100-89 in the quarterfinals.
Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout player of the game, scoring 31 points and controlling the tempo of the game. Despite the ejections of Dillon Brooks and Luka Doncic, Canada managed to outlast Slovenia and secure their spot in the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Canada will face off against Serbia at 4:45 a.m. ET on Friday. The other semifinal will feature Team USA against Germany, following Germany’s narrow 81-79 victory over Latvia.
If both Canada and Team USA win their respective semifinal matches, we could be in for an exciting U.S.-Canada showdown for the World Cup title.
Luka Doncic, who is widely regarded as the best player in the tournament, had a solid performance for Slovenia with 26 points, four rebounds, and five assists. However, he struggled with his shooting, going 8-of-20 from the field. Dillon Brooks played a crucial role in limiting Doncic’s effectiveness, defending him closely throughout the game.
Both Brooks and Doncic were ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving their second technical fouls of the evening. Brooks taunted his opponent after making a three-pointer, while Doncic complained about a non-call after a missed shot. The FIBA officials, known for being more sensitive than their NBA counterparts, let Doncic get away with a lot before issuing the technical fouls.
Brooks, who finished the game with 14 points, faced boos from the crowd every time he touched the ball. This negative reception can be attributed to his reputation as an NBA villain, which grew during a playoff series against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in April. Brooks blew kisses to the booing fans after making two three-pointers in that series.
Gilgeous-Alexander continued his impressive tournament run, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and converting 14-of-16 free throws. He also contributed 10 rebounds and four assists. R.J. Barrett added 24 points and nine rebounds, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided a spark off the bench with 14 points.
The game was evenly matched in the first half, with both teams tied at 50-50. However, Canada managed to pull away in the second half and secure the victory.
In the other quarterfinal match, Germany survived a poor shooting performance from Dennis Schroder and narrowly defeated Latvia 81-79. Germany’s Franz Wagner, who had missed several games due to injury, made a significant impact with 16 points and eight rebounds. The win sets up a rematch between Germany and Team USA from their exhibition game in Abu Dhabi, where the Americans overcame a 16-point deficit to win 99-91.
Germany’s Moritz Wagner, who scored 12 points in the quarterfinals, expressed his excitement about the win and his focus on the upcoming matchup against Team USA.
With Canada’s impressive performance and Team USA’s determination to defend their title, basketball fans around the world are eagerly anticipating a potential U.S.-Canada showdown in the FIBA World Cup finals.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
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