The Canadians won the first World Basketball medal in their history by winning the match for third place (127-118) against the United States, who won overtime on Sunday in Manila. It is also the first time since it sent a team composed entirely of NBA players to the World Cup that “Team USA” has missed the podium two editions in a row (elimination in the quarter-finals in 2019).
The Canadians, however, were pushed into overtime when they probably thought they had done the hardest part by taking a four-length lead (111-107) four seconds from the siren after Dillon Brooks, once again astonishing (39 pts, best scorer of the match, 42 rating) made his two free throws.
But Mikal Bridges (19 pts) then snatched the extension (111-111) for the United States, even more deprived than usual inside with the absences of Paolo Banchero and Jaren Jackson Jr (ill like Brandon Ingram) . Also sent to the penalty line, the Brooklyn winger made his first throw, deliberately missed the second to take the rebound then equalized, with a winning shot on one leg, 6/10th from the buzzer, blowing up the Mall of Asia Arena. Kelly Olynyk then narrowly missed the match point for Canada, her long-range attempt bouncing off the hoop.
What does it matter in the end: launched by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 pts in total), who scored the first seven points in overtime, the Canadians quickly took the lead (118-111 after two minutes), before definitively knock out the Americans with a winning shot from RJ Barrett 44 seconds from the whistle (124-111).
