On the day Dillon Brooks played the star role, he scored 39 points to help Canada win a bronze medal and force the US team to leave the 2023 FIBA World Cup empty-handed.
Before the FIBA World Cup 2023 took place, many NBA fans were thinking about the dream final between the US and Canada. In fact, the two teams still met but not in the match to find the champion but in the bronze medal match.
The two sides performed an NBA-style score-chasing performance for nearly 11,000 spectators at the Mall of Asia arena (Manila, Philippines).
Canada had a 13-point lead at one point but they lost the advantage, allowing the US to send the match into overtime after Mikal Bridges’ unbelievable 4-point play.
But at OT, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander affirmed his position as the number 1 star on the field with a series of impressive points. Not long after that, Dillon Brooks “clutch” free throws led Canada to a 127-118 victory over the United States.
With only a few seconds left on the fourth quarter clock, Canada, with a 4-point advantage, seemed to be able to win without having to go into extra time.
However, Mikal Bridges performed one of the most beautiful and impressive plays of the FIBA World Cup 2023. He threw the first free kick then actively missed the second.
It was Bridges who took the offensive rebound and then stepped back outside the 3-point range to launch the shot. The ball went into the basket in the explosion of NTĐ Mall of Asia, equalizing the match score 111-111.
Unfortunately, this effort by Mikal Bridges only served as a foundation for Canada’s victory over the US team. He himself became a criminal with 2 consecutive turnovers in extra time.
Combined with Austin Reaves’ unlucky step on the line, the US had no response in terms of points against the Canadian team. It wasn’t until the gap reached 9 points that Reaves “cleared the air” with a long throw into the basket. Now everything was too late.
The match ended with a score of 127-118, the victory belonged to the Canadian team. The best player of the match award was given to Dillon Brooks with 39 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds.
Besides 39 points from Brooks, Canada had 31 points, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Kelly Olynyk and Lugent Dortz each scored 11 points in this match.
On the American side, Austin Reaves scored 23 points (7-14 FG) and Anthony Edwards (24 points (9-20 FG) led the entire team. Mikal Bridges, besides the impressive throw that sent the match into overtime, had 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, achieving the highest efficiency index of the match with EFF 23.
This result brought the first medal in Canada’s history in the FIBA World Cup arena, continuing the commendable achievements of the Maple Leaf team after being ticketed to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Along with Canada, the US team also won tickets to play at next year’s Summer Olympics, but they will be empty-handed at the second consecutive World Cup with fourth place overall.
In the history of American basketball, this is only the second time this team has not brought home a medal in two consecutive World Cups. The last time happened 6 decades ago (1963-1967-1970).