Canada surged to a remarkable victory over Australia in a high-stakes Olympic matchup, clinching a 93-83 win in what has been dubbed the "Group of Death." This victory propels Canada to the top of Group A, solidifying their position as a formidable contender in the 2024 Olympics.
Leading the charge for Canada was RJ Barrett, who delivered an outstanding performance with 24 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals in just 25 minutes. Barrett's dynamic presence on the court drew praise from his coach, Jordi Fernandez. "Sometimes plays aren't even called for him, yet he finds a way to score. He's that guy," Fernandez said, encapsulating Barrett's ability to make critical plays under pressure.
From the outset, the game was fiercely contested, with Australia initially holding their ground. Josh Giddey was particularly impressive, scoring 15 points by halftime. However, Australia's momentum faltered in the second half, particularly in the third quarter, where they suffered nine turnovers. This allowed Canada to capitalize and shift the game's direction.
Canada's defensive prowess shone through, especially in the fourth quarter when they restricted Australia to just 13 points. Additionally, the Canadians exploited their opponents' mistakes, scoring an impressive 28 points off turnovers compared to Australia's 10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a crucial role in this defensive effort, adding 16 points, three steals, and two blocked shots to Canada's tally.
Australia’s coach, Brian Goorjian, acknowledged the impact of Canada's relentless pressure. "Even though we had depth in those spots, they wore us down physically, and we really had trouble getting into anything in the second half," Goorjian commented, highlighting the difficulties his team faced against a tenacious Canadian defense.
In other Group A action, Spain secured an 84-77 victory over Greece, positioning themselves in third place. Greece's Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a standout performance with 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, but it wasn't enough to overcome Spain's balanced attack. Santi Aldama was a key contributor for Spain, amassing 19 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks. Sergio Llull added 13 points, while Lorenzo Brown dished out 10 assists along with seven points.
Reflecting on their strategic gameplay, Spain's coach Sergio Scariolo revealed a tactical move that helped secure their win. "We saved a crucial defensive strategy for the very end to exploit their pick-and-roll strength," Scariolo disclosed, underscoring the meticulous planning that contributed to their success.
This victory sets the stage for an exciting showdown, as Canada is set to face Spain on Friday at 11:15 a.m. ET. Meanwhile, Australia will aim to bounce back when they go head-to-head with Greece earlier that day at 7:30 a.m. ET. As the tournament progresses, the performances of top-tier players and strategic decisions by coaches will continue to captivate basketball fans.