The Canadian men’s basketball ensemble is rising to its formidable expectations in the Paris Olympics .
After securing a 93-83 triumph over Australia, Canada ascended to the apex of Group A, nearly assured of advancing to the quarterfinals barring an extraordinary collapse in the final contest.
Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett spearheaded the effort with a stellar 24-point, seven-rebound, five-assist performance.
The ever-dependable Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a quieter outing, tallying just 16 points. However, his efficiency was impeccable, going 8-of-10 from the field. Though his scoring was subdued, he supplemented his contribution with four rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Dillon Brooks and Luguentz Dort, known for their tenacious defense, contributed 16 and 11 points, respectively.
Australia was propelled by Josh Giddey, who notched 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Despite a strong 10-point first quarter, Giddey was largely contained for the remainder of the game. Center Jock Landale added 16 points and led all players with 12 rebounds, while wing Dante Exum chipped in 15 points.
Defense was the cornerstone of Canada’s game plan. The team amassed 11 steals, forced 18 turnovers from Australia, and dominated the points-off-turnovers category, 28-10, with much of the damage occurring in the second half.
RELATED : Novak Djokovic confirms his absence at the Masters 1000 in Canada
A pivotal adjustment was made when coach Jordi Fernandez assigned Dort to guard Giddey, attempting to counter the sizable Australian guard with a more robust defender than Brooks.
“We have strategies, but the players must execute them, and he was exceptional,” Fernandez remarked post-game, per Sportsnet’s Arash Madani. “Lu has been phenomenal in back-to-back games defensively. He’s making a significant statement, and I’m delighted for him.”
This relentless defensive strategy wasn’t as well-executed in their opening game against Greece, where Brooks, Dort, and Dwight Powell fouled out. However, the team found its discipline and identity in their second Olympic appearance.
Initially, foul trouble seemed poised to trouble Canada once more. A mere 1 minute, 44 seconds into the game, Gilgeous-Alexander was benched after picking up his second foul.
Canada managed to keep pace with Australia during Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence, showcasing precision from long range with five three-pointers in the frame.
Andrew Nembhard stepped in to handle ball distribution, effectively finding shooters on the perimeter and Trey Lyles inside when mismatches arose. Nonetheless, the difference in scoring capability was apparent, as the backup guard struggled to create his own shot, finishing with five points on 1-for-6 shooting.
RELATED : Mariners get Justin Turner in trade with Blue Jays
Australia held the lead for much of the first quarter, with Canada finally taking the lead in the final minute after Jamal Murray sank a vintage step-back three-pointer. The teams continued to exchange baskets in the second quarter, with the lead changing hands 10 times by halftime.
The Aussies entered halftime with a four-point lead, but there was little separating the two squads. Turnovers, assists, rebounds, fouls, and points off turnovers were evenly matched, with Canada and Australia mirroring each other’s energy throughout. The key difference lay in efficiency.
Canada’s size and interior defense were always a concern entering the Olympic tournament, with the six-foot-11 Powell being the tallest player on the roster.
Australia exploited this vulnerability, converting high-percentage looks at the rim, shooting an astonishing 73 percent from two-point range by halftime, and outscoring Canada 30-16 in points in the paint.
However, Canada made adjustments in the third quarter, preventing Australia from establishing high-percentage opportunities by forcing turnovers and playing to their strengths on the perimeter. Their length and versatility caused five turnovers in five minutes to start the half, leading to seven points for Canada.
“We didn’t start well defensively,” Dort told CBC Olympics after the game. “We went into halftime and discussed some adjustments. We came out in the second half and really started to click.”
Australia committed nine turnovers in the third quarter, more than doubling their first-half total. Canada’s on-ball pressure and ability to push the ball in transition resulted in a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
As expected, Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone in the final frame, sinking the first basket on a challenging shot over Josh Green, and then blocking Jack McVeigh’s layup on the other end.
The rest of the team followed suit. Murray facilitated the offense and made a tough shot to extend Canada’s lead to 11 points, while former Raptor Khem Birch scored six points in the quarter to help maintain the gap.
“I think we’re still growing. A lot of our guys lack FIBA experience, so we’re all learning from each other and from the tournament,” Fernandez said. “The Olympics is a unique tournament compared to the [World Cup]… We’re learning from it. We’re a program aspiring to be ranked among the top for many years. And we’re progressing. This journey started long ago… It’s not just a one-summer endeavor.”
UP NEXT
Canada faces Spain at 11:15 a.m. ET on Friday.
Australia squares off against Greece at 7:30 a.m. ET on Friday.
Key Moments from Canada vs. Australia
End of the fourth quarter: Canada 93, Australia 83
- 1:05 – After securing an extra possession by tying up McVeigh for a jump ball (possession arrow to Canada), Powell scored, extending Canada’s lead to double digits at 90-79.
- 3:37 – Murray hit a jumper, giving Canada its first double-digit lead of the game and the largest lead for either team up to that point, 83-72.
- 5:10 – After Dort drew an offensive foul from Mills, Barrett capitalized by hitting his third three-pointer of the game, extending the lead to 81-72 Canada.
- 9:23 – Gilgeous-Alexander continued his clutch play, hitting a mid-range jumper over Josh Green, increasing Canada’s lead to 74-70.
Third quarter
End of the third quarter: Canada 72, Australia 70
- 0:00 – Chaos ensued as Dort stripped Giddey and scored on a fast break dunk, but Australia quickly inbounded the ball, and McVeigh hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.
- 3:30 – A 12-3 run gave Canada its biggest lead, but Exum’s timely jumper for Australia stopped the momentum, 66-60 Canada.
- 5:48 – Brooks picked up his third foul, forcing him to sit out the rest of the quarter, one of three Canadians who fouled out against Greece.
- 5:59 – Dort hit his second three-pointer of the game, making it back-to-back threes for Canada after Barrett’s shot, prompting an Australian timeout, 58-54 Canada.
- 9:27 – Barrett showed his flair in transition, spinning through the lane for a left-handed layup, scoring the first basket of the second half.
HALF TIME
Second quarter
End of the second quarter: Australia 49, Canada 45
- 0:00 – A tightly contested first half featured 10 lead changes and no lead greater than six points. Despite early foul trouble, Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada with 10 points on five-of-six shooting, while Giddey led all scorers with 15 points.
- 3:54 – Foul trouble loomed for Canada, with Murray fouling Patty Mills on a three-point attempt, marking Canada’s third foul of the quarter and eighth overall. Mills made all three free throws, 40-37 Australia.
- 7:29 – Gilgeous-Alexander returned to the game and immediately made his presence felt with a tough layup through traffic, 33-31 Canada.
- 9:39 – Giddey proved a handful for Canada, scoring 13 points, including a three-pointer at the start of the second quarter, 31-26 Australia.
First quarter
End of the first quarter: Australia 28, Canada 26
- 1:14 – Jamal Murray joined the three-point party, hitting Canada’s fifth three-pointer, each made by a different player, 26-24 Canada.
- 2:05 – Nembhard stepped up, hitting Canada’s fourth three-pointer of the first quarter, 23-21 Australia.
- 5:10 – Brooks responded for Canada during Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence, hitting a timely three-pointer to end a 7-0 run by the Boomers, 13-11 Australia.
- 8:16 – Early trouble for Gilgeous-Alexander, who picked up his second foul shortly after scoring Canada’s first basket. Andrew Nembhard stepped in for significant early minutes.
- 9:19 – Josh Giddey opened the scoring with a mid-range jumper.
- 10:00 – The game tipped off with Powell winning the tip for Canada.
Pre-game
- Canada retained the same starting lineup as in their first game: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Dillon Brooks, RJ Barrett, and Dwight Powell. This starting group was plus-22 in 10.5 minutes of action together against Greece.
