Spinning inside the paint, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kissed the ball off the glass as it slowly fell inside the basket in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
It was that type of quarter — and game — for Gilgeous-Alexander. He led Canada to a 95-65 blowout win over France to kick off its Group H play.
The 25-year-old couldn’t start his World Cup run on a better note. He finished with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, 13 rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes. He also went 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.
The historic outing made Gilgeous-Alexander the first player in FIBA history to have at least 20 points, five assists and five rebounds in his World Cup debut.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s night coincided with Canada’s. Its slow start gave France an 18-14 lead following the first quarter. Canada inched in front, 43-40, at halftime but quickly expanded the lead to double digits in the third quarter due to a massive 25-8 scoring advantage. Gilgeous-Alexander led the surge, scoring 13 points in the quarter.
The third-quarter outburst by Gilgeous-Alexander turned this game into a blowout. Canada entered the final frame with a 20-point lead.
The dominating win continues to add ammo to Gilgeous-Alexander’s argument as the best player participating in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Lu Dort struggled with shooting efficiency. In 23 minutes off the bench, he had seven points on 3-of-12 shooting and went 1-of-7 from 3. He also had five rebounds and four fouls.
Let’s look at highlights and instant reactions from Canada’s 30-point win over France.