After an outstanding performance (before a fourth-quarter ejection) in Wednesday’s quarterfinal win at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks made headlines by shadow boxing in the arena tunnel — complete with boxing gloves — as he awaited his Canadian teammates to exit the floor postgame.
Unfortunately for Brooks, there was no opportunity for him to repeat that celebration Friday. Canada fell to Serbia, 95-86 (box score), in the World Cup semifinals. With 16 points and 3 rebounds, Brooks finished as his team’s second-leading scorer. He shot 5-of-12 overall (41.7%) and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%).
There was, however, a celebration for second-year Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic. In light-hearted trolling, the Serbian starter did his own postgame shadow-boxing act in that same tunnel.
Canada will conclude its World Cup run with a showdown in Sunday’s bronze-medal game against the United States, which lost to Germany in another upset on Friday night. That could mean a perimeter matchup of Brooks versus Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.
Until then, here’s a look back at highlights, analysis, interviews and postgame reaction from Canada’s disappointing loss Friday.