With the 2023 FIBA World Cup inching closer, Canada and Spain scheduled an exhibition game to prepare for the tournament.
Canada escaped with an overtime win against Spain, 85-80. This is the second consecutive friendly that resulted in an overtime win for Canada.
Both teams have Oklahoma City Thunder representatives on their rosters: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort with Canada and Usman Garuba with Spain.
In 33 minutes, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting, eight rebounds and three assists. He went 6-of-7 from the free-throw line.
The 25-year-old had a chance to win this game at the end of regulation but missed a turnaround wing 3 that resulted in overtime.
Dort struggled in his outing. In 19 minutes off the bench, he went scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. Despite the lack of production, he played critical minutes down the stretch in both the fourth quarter and overtime.
The biggest surprise of the OKC trio was Garuba. While Gilgeous-Alexander led the game in scoring, that is expected of him after he finished No. 5 in MVP voting last season.
Garuba — on the other hand — has been mostly an afterthought when it comes to the Thunder’s roster construction discourse. That will quickly change though if he continues to put up similar performances as he did against two of his OKC teammates.
In 23 minutes, Garuba finished with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, eight rebounds and a ridiculous five steals. Playing with several other NBA players on the court, the recently acquired Thunder player was one of the louder guys in the game.
Full box scores for both Canada and Spain can be viewed below:
Let’s look at instant reactions and highlights from Canada’s five-point overtime exhibition win.
SGA is so smooth. 🔥🔥
(via @Itamar_17_10)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 17, 2023
End of 1Q: Canada 27, Spain 21
SGA – 8 points on 3/7 shooting
Garuba – 2 points on 1/1 shooting, 1 rebound
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 17, 2023
Usman Garuba all the wayyyyy pic.twitter.com/C2gRG4MXjt
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 17, 2023
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives into heavy traffic and kicks it out to Kelly Olynyk.
Olynyk does the rest to give Canada a 34-33 lead: pic.twitter.com/dKlu2zOI1e
— Ross Lovelace (@Rosslovelace) August 17, 2023
Garuba really was everywhere in that first half. Sends RJ Barrett away here as the shot clock is about to expire.
Spain's 2 best players appear to be their starting and backup centers. pic.twitter.com/n1nVMwTPHq
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 17, 2023
Some impressive touch here as well. Remain extremely intrigued of him as a rotational big next season.
— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 17, 2023
HALF: Spain 44, Canada 40
SGA – 14 points on 5/11 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Dort – 1 rebound, 1 steal
Garuba – 6 points on 3/3 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 17, 2023
I’ve been impressed by Usman’s Garuba defense today
He’s slightly undersized but he has a really strong core & plays good with contact while still having a level of switch ability.
Has also shown that physicality on the boards
— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 17, 2023
If any Thunder fans are looking to familiarize themselves with Usman Garuba's game, this clip should help:
Watch him rip Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, then perform the most akward euro step in history, miss, and get his own rebound. pic.twitter.com/85OBA1cyj3
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 17, 2023
End of 3Q: Spain 56, Canada 55
SGA – 17 points on 5/11 shooting, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Dort – 0/2 shooting, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Garuba – 6 points on 3/6 shooting, 7 rebounds
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 17, 2023
Garuba gets another steal, and this time he's able to convert in transition with a dunk.
Both teams are tied at 64, 6 minutes remaining. Excellent game so far. pic.twitter.com/ARdCmW7004
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 17, 2023
SHAI STEALS THE BALL AND LAYS IT UP TO KNOT IT AT 73 with 1:20 left!!!
— ThunderChets (@ThunderChats) August 17, 2023
SGA misses at the buzzer, and we have overtime!
Great defense by Parra. pic.twitter.com/2vVhg5PEVE
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 17, 2023
SGA misses the turnaround 3 and the game heads to OT with Canada and Spain tied at 73-73
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 17, 2023
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Spain
22 points
7 rebounds
3 assists
1 steal
1 block
6/7 FTA
7/17 shooting
+16Overtime W for Canada pic.twitter.com/q3CWumyK1h
— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 17, 2023
Taking care of business 💪
Canada picks up their third-straight win in exhibition action with an overtime win over the defending World Cup champions.#FIBAWC | #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/vNulwVu3uh
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) August 17, 2023
🏀Shai Gilgeous-Alexander🏀
Solid game vs Spain with a crucial steal in the closing minutes 👀
22PTS | 8REB | 3AST | 1STL | 1BLK
7-17 FG | 2-4 3PT | 6-6 FT pic.twitter.com/2QjIAe3vDw— The Thunder Roundtable (@NBASkoolOfThort) August 17, 2023
