Team USA vs Canada FIBA World Cup third place Final recap
- → Dillon Brooks erupts for 39 points on 7/8 from three to win bronze in Overtime.
- → Edwards and Reeves combine for 47 but not enough for Team USA to match Canada.
- → SGA adds 31+12 assists and scores 7 in overtime to clinch third place.
- → Bobby Portis ejected with 2 unsportsmanlike fouls.
Team Canada beat USA in derby to achieve historical bronze
Canada start strong with high-scoring 1st quarter against Team USA at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. The Canadians’ advantage reaches double figures with 2 minutes to go in the first quarter as Olynyk buries the and-one after taking advantage of his mis-match against Austin Reeves in the paint. Bobby Portis manages to cut down Canada’s gap to nine points, but Canada’s 62% from the field helps them stay in control in this first quarter.
Austin Reaves’ three-point play at the beginning of the 3rd quarter brings Team USA back within one possession of Canada, while Hart’s fastbreak layup and Cam Johnson’s corner three effectively put Team USA up 38-36 just 2:15 minutes into the second quarter. The remainder of the first half is a back and forth on both hands as the teams head into the locker rooms 56-58 in Canada’s favor.
Portis’ unsportsmanlike foul with 4 minutes remaining in the third sends Alexander Walker to the line, and Canada uses the last three minutes to get back to an 11-point lead (80-91) towards the end of the third. Team USA get within 3 points of the Canadians within just under 3 minutes of the final period, behind Austin Reaves’ silky pump-fake and finish at the rim. Shortly after, Haliburton’s three ties the ballgame at 94.
Since then it’s back-and-forth between the two teams – with RJ Barret’s triple giving Canada the advantage, before Bridges’ potential four-point play brings USA back in the lead and Brooks nails another three to bring Canada back in front. With one minute to go, the score is a 107-107 tie.
Haliburton misses a three, and Gilgeous-Alexander sinks his trademark midrange shot to make it 107-109 Canada. Brooks then collects Edward’s miss and makes it a two-possessions game with points 33 and 24 from the charity stripe. He then crowns his MVP performance with a block on Reaves’ attempt on the other end. With four seconds to go, Canada seem in control with a 4-point lead as Bridges head to the line with two free throws. What happens next is incredible: Bridges sinks the first, and intentionally misses the second. He then grabs the rebound, heads to the corner, and buries a game-tying three with 0.6 left. Olynyk gets up the game winner but the shot is long and the teams head to overtime.
Canada Domination in Overtime
Brooks and SGA lead a 10-4 Canada run before RJ Barrett sinks the 124-115 three from the top of the key. Reaves steps out of bounds after the following timeout as Portis collects his 2nd unsportsmanlike and is ejected. Canada beat Team USA 118-127 with a 16-7 OT performance and achieve their best result in basketball history.
FIBA World Cup 3rd Place Final MVP: Dillon Brooks
The Rockets’ forward finished the game with an incredible 39 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, achieved with extreme efficiency. 12/18 from the field, 7/8 from deep, and 8/10 from the line, paired with his usual contribution on defense. The crowd in Manila was honoring him with “MVP” chants every time he stepped up to take a free throw. Not many would have anticipated this epilogue to the controversial Canadia player’s World Cup.
