Canada defeated Spain in the final game of Group L with a score of 88:85, securing their spot in the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup.
Spain had a slightly better start to the game, building a six-point lead, but then RJ Barrett emerged on the other side and tied the score before the end of the first quarter. Canada stayed in the game, thanks to the efforts of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, until Willy Hernangomez took control and gave Spain a 10-point lead at halftime.
Spain faced some challenges in the third quarter as Canada mounted a 13:2 run to take the lead. However, Sergio Scariolo’s team responded with an 11-point streak in the final moments, giving them a 12-point advantage heading into the decisive 10 minutes. Fernandez’s team effectively limited their opponent’s offense in the fourth quarter, and the outstanding performances of Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks orchestrated the comeback and victory for their national team.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the leading scorer for Canada with 30 points, while Hernangomez stood out for Spain with 25 points.
As the first-placed team in Group L, Canada will face Slovenia (the second-placed team in Group K) in the quarterfinals, while Latvia will match up against Germany.
Nervousness was present from the start for both teams, and understandably so, as they were playing a game that could earn them a spot in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals. Spain’s players were the first to establish a noticeable lead, driven by Willy Hernangomez and Alex Abrines, giving them a two-possession advantage. However, R.J. Barrett had a ready response on the other side, orchestrating a 9-0 run that brought his national team back and tied the game at 21-21 with a three-pointer from Alberto Diaz before the end of the first quarter.
Where Barrett left off at the end of the first quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued at the beginning of the second, giving Canada a new lead. Sergio Scariolo decided to give Santi Aldama an opportunity, and with a few excellent plays, he brought Spain ahead by two points (28-26). The pace slowed down in the continuation of the game, with both teams mostly trading baskets, resulting in frequent ties.
Two three-pointers by Alex Abrines, followed by a technical foul on Dillon Brooks, forced coach Jordi Fernandez to call a timeout to regain control of his team’s rhythm (36-33). Despite this, the Spaniards practically scored seven points in one possession, definitively imposing their pace (40-33). The only bright spot for Canada in the first half was Gilgeous-Alexander, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Spain from building a double-digit lead – 48-38.
Spain’s players started the third quarter much better, evident in a quick 8-2 run that reduced the deficit to just “two possessions” (50-46). Sergio Scariolo wasn’t pleased with the officiating and capped it off with a technical foul. After the Canadians tied the game at 52-52, the Italian coach had to call a quick timeout because there was no other way to stop the opponent’s surge.
Rudy Fernandez managed to wake his team up from their slumber, first with a technical foul, and then with a made three-pointer, regaining the lead for Spain (59-55). Kelly Olynyk briefly halted the opponent’s momentum, but Aldama quickly extended the lead to eight points, prompting Fernandez to call a timeout (69-61). Instead of closing the gap, it grew to as much as 12 points, making the situation even more challenging for Canada (73-61).
The fourth quarter started at an incredible pace, seemingly more favorable for Canada. Fernandez’s team, led by Brooks, went on an 8-0 run, quickly narrowing the deficit to just two possessions (73-69). The Canadians limited their opponents to only five points, and after Gilgeous-Alexander’s three-point play and Brooks’ three-pointer, the game was tied again (80-80).
With a basket by Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada took the lead, and a poorly executed Spanish possession turned into a four-point advantage for Fernandez’s team on the other end (84-80). Aldama’s three-pointer with five seconds left added drama to the game, but it didn’t pay off for Spain as Gilgeous-Alexander made both of his free throws.