By beating the United States 127-118 in overtime, Canada made World Cup history, becoming the first team from North America to finish in the top three. After Canada had seemingly taken control of the game late in regulation, Mikal Bridges made a remarkable three-point jumper to send the game into overtime.
Canada, though, was not deterred by the loss. They were able to immediately take the lead again in OT and never relinquish it.
Canada beats USA
Dillon Brooks scored 39 pts to lead Canada, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not far behind with 31 pts in their win over the USA, which took them to the finals.
The loss was the United States’ third in the event; they also lost in the second round to Lithuania and in the semi-finals to Germany. American hearts were briefly lifted by Mikal Bridges’ late heroics, as he made a game-winning three-pointer after regaining possession of his own missed free throw.
The title of Canada's best men's team ever assembled, confirmed.
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) September 10, 2023
FIBA Men's Basketball World Cup 2023 bronze medallists.#FIBAWC | #WinForCanada | #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/dzDm7TFtqt
Shortly after, Canada’s Kelly Olynyk had a chance to clinch the game with a three-pointer, but it clanked off the back of the net. Canada was in command throughout, with large leads at the end of the first and third quarters.
With 24 pts, Anthony Edwards led the United States in scoring. In 2019, at the World Cup held in China, the United States placed eighth. Germany and Serbia, both looking to win their first FIBA Trophy, were poised to face off in the championship game.
Dillon Brooks makes history at the FIBA World Cup
Amazingly, Dillon Brooks led Canada to a 127-118 victory over the United States team in Manila, Philippines, during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Team USA struggled to prevent Brooks’ sharpshooting from outside the arc, and he lit up the scoreboard with an astonishing 39 points, prompting cries of “MVP” from the fans as he departed the court.
Canada’s victory was their best-ever showing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup and earned them a medal for the first time. However, Brooks’s performance was unmatched and shattered multiple records.
TCL Player of the Game Dillon Brooks set a new points record in a medal game to tow third-place Canada to their first-ever medal đź‘Ź
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 10, 2023
📊 39 PTS | 5 AST | 4 REB | 7 3PM | 42 EFF#FIBAWC x #WinForCanada 🇨🇦 | #InspireGreatness pic.twitter.com/Og5wWPyHEG
Brooks got things going for Canada by scoring their first five points and then adding five more of his team’s 16 in overtime. He scored 39 points, dished out five assists, pulled down four boards, blocked two shots, and swiped one ball.
The Canadian FIBA World Cup scoring record held by Carl Ridd was broken by Brooks. In addition, his seven three-pointers in the medal game equaled Kevin Durant’s total from the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup final, making them the first players to accomplish this feat in a medal game.
Canada beat Team USA for the first time in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and Brooks scored the most points in a medal-winning game with his remarkable performance. His 39 points were tied for the most scored by any player at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Even more impressively, his astounding performance ranked him in the top 11 best single-game showings in FIBA Basketball World Cup history.
What do you think of Canada’s significant victory? Join us in congratulating the Canadian Team in the comments!
