2023-09-10 18:38:01
MANILA (AP) — Mikal Bridges worked a miracle to force overtime. But the agonizing basket was insufficient to prevent the United States from returning home empty-handed from the basketball World Cup and, following 87 years of waiting, Canada has returned to the podium in a major tournament.
Dillon Brooks scored 39 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 12 assists and Canada earned its first major championship medal since 1936 following beating the United States 127-118 in the third-place matchup in Manila on Sunday.
The United States said goodbye without medals for the second World Cup in a row. It was only the seventh in 38 participations in Olympic or world Games that the American team did not capture any type of medal.
“The United States hasn’t won the World Cup since 2014,” said Americans coach Steve Kerr. “It’s very hard. These teams at the FIBA level are very good, they are well trained, they have continuity and they have been playing together for a long time. This is difficult, it was already difficult.”
The Americans were the favorites for the title, and ended up losing three of their last four games.
They left frustrated, angry and disappointed.
RJ Barrett contributed 23 points for Canada (6-2), which improved to 2-21 in head-to-head matches once morest the United States in major FIBA events. The only victory at the FIBA level in a tournament in the Americas in 2005, without NBA players. The one that was called for this World Cup was full: Canada summoned seven from the NBA and the 12 from the United States compete in the league.
But three of the Americans — Brandon Ingram, Paolo Banchero and Jaren Jackson Jr. — missed Sunday’s game due to illness. Anthony Edwards led the United States (5-3) with 24 points. Austin Reaves scored 23 and Bridges added 19.
Bridges excelled in the final seconds of regulation by taking some free throws. He scored the first, intentionally missed the second and recovered the rebound in the right corner. Bridges turned and shot behind the three-point line to tie the score, 111-111.
Kelly Olynyk almost tied it for Canada on the final play with a long-range shot.
“This team was incredible, special,” said the Canadians’ coach, Spaniard Jordi Fernández. “It is the beginning of something special that will last a long time.”
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