Spinning inside the paint, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kissed the ball off the glass as it slowly fell inside the basket in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
It was that type of quarter — and game — for Gilgeous-Alexander. He led Canada to a 95-65 blowout win over France to kick off its Group H play.
The 25-year-old couldn’t start his World Cup run on a better note. He finished with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, 13 rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes. He also went 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.
The historic outing made Gilgeous-Alexander the first player in FIBA history to have at least 20 points, five assists and five rebounds in his World Cup debut.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s night coincided with Canada’s. Its slow start gave France an 18-14 lead following the first quarter. Canada inched in front, 43-40, at halftime but quickly expanded the lead to double digits in the third quarter due to a massive 25-8 scoring advantage. Gilgeous-Alexander led the surge, scoring 13 points in the quarter.
The third-quarter outburst by Gilgeous-Alexander turned this game into a blowout. Canada entered the final frame with a 20-point lead.
The dominating win continues to add ammo to Gilgeous-Alexander’s argument as the best player participating in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Lu Dort struggled with shooting efficiency. In 23 minutes off the bench, he had seven points on 3-of-12 shooting and went 1-of-7 from 3. He also had five rebounds and four fouls.
Let’s look at highlights and instant reactions from Canada’s 30-point win over France.
One Team. One Goal.#FIBAWC | #WinForCanada | #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/mK9KyNk2eg
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) August 25, 2023
after the first
📺: @Sportsnet
📊: https://t.co/2KnCwRAVMA#FIBAWC | #WinForCanada | #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/RoWYnfir7S— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) August 25, 2023
Shai being Shai. 😮💨#FIBAWC | @CanBball pic.twitter.com/fXx4ZlkLWv
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 25, 2023
SGA ➡️ Dort ➡️ Dunk
OKC duo gives Canada the lead:
pic.twitter.com/gAwrZiOLvc— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) August 25, 2023
Lu Dort checks in – gets a quick dunk off an SGA assist. It’s almost like they’ve played together before.
— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) August 25, 2023
HALF: Canada 43, France 40
SGA – 8 points on 2/9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Dort – 4 points on 2/7 shooting, 1 rebound
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 25, 2023
Shai & Dort’s first half pic.twitter.com/KasyJI1GxK
— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 25, 2023
3rd quarter Shaiiii
8 points in the first 4 minutes
— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 25, 2023
Love this set play Canada ran to get SGA and opening and help him get down hill
He is so damn poised pic.twitter.com/dMKcQI3mHF
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) August 25, 2023
World Cup audience discovering what OKC fans already knew:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a problem in the 3rd quarter.
SGA on fire after the break.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) August 25, 2023
UNGUARDABLE pic.twitter.com/T78lSL1PlC
— ThunderChets (@ThunderChats) August 25, 2023
That type of game for SGA
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 25, 2023
This heat check from SGA encapsulates how his third quarter has gone pic.twitter.com/HX6fYEeXgX
— Kade Kimble (@kadekimble) August 25, 2023
Twitter feed 1st half: SGA really struggling
Thunder fans: pic.twitter.com/IWEA1FTwLr
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) August 25, 2023
End of 3Q: Canada 68, France 48
SGA – 21 points on 8/17 shooting, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
Dort – 4 points on 2/8 shooting, 4 rebounds
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 25, 2023
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the first player to ever have 20+ points, 10+ rebounds & 5+ assists in their World-Cup debut
— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 25, 2023
France has no one that can stay in front of Shai in the half court, let alone transition 😭
— ThunderChets (@ThunderChats) August 25, 2023
Insane angle of SGA’s deep 3
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 25, 2023
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his World Cup debut against France 🇨🇦
27 points
12 rebounds
6 assists
2 steals
9/18 FGA
8/9 FTA
+31
W over 🇫🇷First player in the last 30 years to put that statline in their debut 🔥
SUPERSTAR. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/AaPfdUB5zQ
— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 25, 2023
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) August 25, 2023
O CANADA. 🇨🇦#FIBAWC | @CanBball pic.twitter.com/tI7iYXjWxJ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 25, 2023
"We wanted to come out here, play to our identity, do the right things on the basketball court."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on @CanBball's statement win against France. 🍁 pic.twitter.com/WwbIlm6aCi
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 25, 2023
Full highlights from SGA’s FIBA debut of 27 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists:
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 25, 2023
