After being tied at 50 at halftime, Canada continued to dominate the third quarter in its 100-89 win against Slovenia in the 2023 FIBA World Cup quarterfinals.
As has been the case for both Canada and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge in the third quarter with a dominating 10 minutes. He scored nine of its 30 points in the quarter, leading to the 30-21 scoring advantage that decided the game.
Buy Thunder TicketsGilgeous-Alexander’s superb play didn’t stop there though. He scored 17 points in the second half to lead Canada to a 50-39 scoring advantage to seal the win.
Slovenia made it interesting in the fourth quarter — especially after Luka Doncic’s ejection — by cutting its deficit to nine points but Canada pulled away.
Canada moves onto the semifinals for the first time; it will face Serbia.
Overall, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 10 rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes. He shot 14-of-16 from the free-throw line.
In his last two games, he has totaled 61 points on 15-of-24 (62.5%) shooting.
Dueling against fellow 2018 draft member superstar Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander won this round. The highly anticipated matchup between arguably the two best FIBA players lived up to the hype for the most part before Canada started to pull away in the second half.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Lu Dort’s biggest contribution was agitating Doncic’s fourth-quarter ejection. After the latter thought the former fouled him, he was handed his second technical foul of the game which led to his immediate disqualification. This caused Slovenia to play the final 6:37 without its best player.
In 21 minutes off the bench, Dort had eight points on 2-of-4 shooting and two rebounds. He struggled to get out of foul trouble as he totaled four fouls, which likely explains his limited playing time.
Let’s look at instant reactions and highlights from Canada’s quarterfinals win.
Shai gets things started for @CanBball. 🍁
Canada's #FIBAWC quarterfinal clash with Slovenia is LIVE now on Sportsnet + SN NOW! pic.twitter.com/DfYSWTaA1G
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 6, 2023
SGA hitting on all his difficult midrange jumpers
He has 8 points on perfect 4/4 shooting in 6 mins
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 6, 2023
Shai too smooth with it man
(Credit: FIBA) pic.twitter.com/WLk8qLnMB3
— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) September 6, 2023
Automatic from mid-range 🥶
Shai goes 4/4 from the field to fire up Canada's start.#FIBAWC x #WinForCanada 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/6rJZuIK14K
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 6, 2023
Caption this Luka Doncic, Lu Dort photo 😂#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/NlJvtrRjfg
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 6, 2023
End of 1Q: Canada 26, Slovenia 24
SGA – 8 points on 4/5 shooting, 1 assist
Dort – 6 points on 2/2 shooting
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 6, 2023
LU ALL THE WAY FROM MONTRÉAL 👌
📺: @Sportsnet
📊: https://t.co/83lYWoHWhP#FIBAWC | #WinForCanada | #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/9hqkdiA88u— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) September 6, 2023
from the schoolyard all the way to the #FIBAWC quarter-finals
the cousins — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — connect for the triple 👌
📺: @Sportsnet
📊: https://t.co/83lYWoHWhP#FIBAWC | #WinForCanada | #OneTeampic.twitter.com/dtw4IVkZOh— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) September 6, 2023
SGA deep in his bag 💼 #FIBAWC x #WinForCanada 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/R6VWf4dcnJ
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 6, 2023
HALF: Canada 50, Slovenia 50
SGA – 13 points on 5/7 shooting, 2 assists, 1 rebound
Dort – 8 points on 2/3 shooting, 1 rebound
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 6, 2023
SGA avoids a couple of intentional fouls for the transition bucket lmao
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 6, 2023
Stop that, Shai. 😮💨#FIBAWC | @CanBball pic.twitter.com/dyQTvuoqLB
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 6, 2023
SHAI SIDESTEP 3
— TF (@ThunderFocus) September 6, 2023
SGA is just in full takeover mode. Absolutely dominating this game. Canada up 16 on Slovenia now.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) September 6, 2023
Luka vs Shai step-back three competition. NEED.#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/EGQneI0qbr
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 6, 2023
End of 3Q: Canada 80, Slovenia 71
SGA – 22 points on 7/10 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 7/7 FTs
Dort – 8 points on 2/4 shooting, 1 rebound
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 6, 2023
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 9 points in the 3rd quarter to give Canada the 80-71 lead.
SGA
22 PTS
7-10 FGLuka
25 PTS
8-18 FG— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) September 6, 2023
Following his second technical foul, Luka Dončić has been ejected from the game. 😬#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/Fpg05QOaMO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 6, 2023
Massive defensive rebound by Shai to put an end to a Slovenia flurry, then he banks in a runner to give Canada some breathing room with under 3 minutes to go. Getting it done on both ends.
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) September 6, 2023
pic.twitter.com/5KuFI9MYBi https://t.co/poRmXl82xY
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) September 6, 2023
FINAL: Canada 100, Slovenia 89
SGA – 31 points on 8/12 shooting, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 14/16 FTs
Dort – 8 points on 2/4 shooting, 2 rebounds
Canada advances to the FIBA WC semifinals against Serbia
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 6, 2023
For the first time in Senior Men’s National Team history, Canada will finish top-four at the #FIBAWC
A historic run from a special team.#WinForCanada | #OneTeam https://t.co/NosFlrJVQ0
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) September 6, 2023
WAKE UP CANADA, YOU'RE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS 🇨🇦#FIBAWC x #WinForCanada pic.twitter.com/lMbeez91t7
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 6, 2023
TOP 4 IN THE WORLD.#FIBAWC x #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/DuHNQaHt7t
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 6, 2023
