The first day of the FIBA World Cup 2023 concludes with Canada’s resounding triumph: France annihilated in the comeback, 95-65 the final score.
France started better off the blocks, allowing only 14 points to Canada in the first quarter and finding an initial 7-0 run. Evan Fournier scored 19 points in the first half alone, but Jordi Torres’ team was just sizing up the competition.
Between the end of the second and the third quarter, a 24-4 run broke the game open, with Canada even touching a +33 lead in the fourth quarter, thanks to an unstoppable series of offensive plays. The symbol of the game was, of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The star of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who scored 8 points in the first half on 2/9 shooting, tallied 13 points in the third quarter (France only scored 8) on 6/9 shooting, and already had 10 rebounds and 4 assists. France, 5/23 from 3-point range, had to wave the white flag with still 10 minutes left to play.
For Canada, SGA finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists (tying the best-ever debut in a FIBA World Cup with LeBron and Giddey), 18 for Kelly Olynyk, and 12 for Dillon Brooks.
For France, 6/28 from 3, 17 turnovers, and 45-35 in rebounds. 21 for Evan Fournier, but as mentioned, 19 in the first half. 12 for Nando De Colo and Mathias Lessort (with 6 rebounds). Rudy Gobert finished with 8 points and 9 rebounds but 4 turnovers and 4/9 from the field.
In Group H, Latvia recorded a victory of 109-70 over Lebanon. On Sunday, France, one of the top favorites for the world title, will stake it all against Luca Banchi’s team. Canada, on the other hand, will face a Lebanon that is already out of contention.
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