The Canadian men’s national team posted an overtime win over top-ranked Spain on Thursday in a tune-up game ahead of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists and RJ Barrett added 18 points in the 85-80 victory in Granada. Dwight Powell chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds and Kelly Olynyk had 13 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Juan Hernangomez led Spain with 12 points and five rebounds.
Purdue center Zach Edey, the lone college player on the team, totaled five points, three rebounds and one steal in nine minutes of action. The outing was his most significant run in two appearances with Canada ahead of the tournament.
sit back and enjoy the show
here's the highlights from today's OT win against the world No. 1
(đź“ą: @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/sEWpkSgekJ
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) August 18, 2023
The Canadians improved to 3-1 during their exhibition schedule, which will wrap up on Friday against the Dominican Republic. The team has been led by mostly NBA players with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort also contributing at a high level.
The team will open the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Group H on Aug. 25 against France in Indonesia. It will face Lebanon on Aug. 27 and wrap up the group phase on Aug. 29 with Latvia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup will help seven countries qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The seven spots include the top two teams from the Americas and Europe (not including host France) and one team from Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Canada last qualified for the Olympics in 2000.
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