Kofi Inkoom
In a thrilling and high-scoring contest for the third-place position at the FIBA World Cup, two North American nations, Canada and the USA, engaged in an epic tie for the bronze medal.
Canada emerged victorious with a 127-118 overtime win, thanks to outstanding performances by Dillon Brooks, who scored 39 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who contributed 31 points.
Brooks on fire today 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/91DXAKSz3W
— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) September 10, 2023
RJ Barrett also contributed 23 points to the winning team and secured their victory with a three-pointer, extending their lead to 124-115.
On the American side, Anthony Edwards was the top scorer with 24 points, complemented by Austin Reaves with 23 and Mikal Bridges, who made an incredible play to send the game to overtime, adding 19 points.
However, despite their efforts, it was not enough for the USA, especially since Jaren Jackson Jr., Paolo Banchero, and Brandon Ingram were unable to play due to illness, making this game a historic one for the victorious side.
Nail biting ending :
In the final moments of regulation, Gilgeous-Alexander narrowed the score to 109-107, then Edwards missed a shot, but Dillon Brooks grabbed the rebound and drew a foul.
TCL player of the game, Dillion Brooks, made both free throws, extending Canada’s lead to four points (111-107) with 20 seconds remaining.
In a crucial play, Reaves missed a shot, but Bridges secured the rebound, was fouled with four seconds left, and made one free throw intentionally while missing the second.
Mikal Bridges’ Clutch moment to tie the game for team USA 🔥🔥👏🏽. #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/Y8YhByLfyd
— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) September 10, 2023
However, he managed to grab the rebound again and made an incredible three-pointer, tying the game at 111. Kelly Olynyk had a chance for a final shot with 0.6 seconds left but missed, leading to overtime.
Canada started the extra period with a 9-3 run (120-114), which ultimately proved to be decisive.
A historic comeback.
USA managed to equalize the score at 94, staging a remarkable comeback after trailing for most of the game.
This comeback was ignited by Tyrese Haliburton’s three-pointer, completing a 10-0 run. With four minutes left, Canada regained a 100-98 lead, prompting the USA to call a timeout, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
The turn of events was quite unexpected, especially considering Canada’s strong start to the game.
They led 34-25 in the first quarter, with Dillon Brooks scoring an impressive 21 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc in the first half.
Despite Canada maintaining a two-point lead at halftime (58-56), they extended their advantage to nine points (91-82) at the beginning of the fourth quarter, signaling the start of a fiercely competitive phase of the game.
Celebrations take over for Canada 🥳#FIBAWC x #WinForCanada 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/G1prqf8hSa
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 10, 2023
Kudos to Canada on achieving this momentous victory! Their impressive journey, culminating in their first-ever bronze medal in the FIBA World Cup, paves the way for even greater aspirations, including a potential success in the upcoming summer Olympics in Paris.