Paris 2024, Group A | Spain’s heart is not enough: Canada wins, it was Rudy’s last dance
Photo FIBA.
Canada did not tremble in the final, the heart of Brizuela and Llull was not enough: Spain was eliminated, it was Rudy Fernandez’s last dance.
A beautiful game was the one between Canada and Spain, as beautiful as the whole of Group A. In the game, which Canada won by a score of 88-85, coach Jordi Fernandez’s team made the first push in the second period, going into halftime up +11 thanks to a 30-19 second quarter. However, Canada was never able to close out the game, allowing Spain to stay in the game until the end thanks to a comeback led by Brizuela. Sergio Llull hit a very hard -1 triple with 3.1 seconds left to give his team a chance to believe until the end. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ice cold from the lunette, Sergio Llull’s last prayer is not answered: Canada is first, Spain is eliminated instead. Australia secures second place thanks to the defeat of Spain.
For Canada, there are 20 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 18 from Andrew Nembhard and 16 from RJ Barrett, author of a very heavy triple in the last minute of the game.
Spain was not satisfied with Brizuela’s 17, Llull’s 13 and Abrines’ 12.