The reigning champions, Spain, saw their title defense crumble in a nail-biting 88-85 defeat to Canada in Jakarta In a shocking turn of events at the Basketball World Cup.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA sensation from the Oklahoma City Thunder, led the charge for Canada with an outstanding 30-point performance, dethroning the European champions in a thrilling showdown.
Meanwhile, the United States, already assured of a spot in the quarter-finals, faced a formidable Lithuanian squad in Manila and tasted a 110-104 loss.
Anthony Edwards, representing the Minnesota Timberwolves, emerged as the star for the US, securing 35 points in a valiant effort.
The silver lining for the American team is their qualification for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, maintaining their pursuit of the coveted gold medal.
Coach Steve Kerr, who also guides the Golden State Warriors, remained optimistic despite the setback, stating, “We are fortunate that the loss doesn’t hurt us in terms of our goal which is to win the gold medal.”
He further highlighted the benefit of not needing additional qualification for the Olympics, acknowledging the pain of the defeat while keeping the focus on their ultimate objective.
Looking ahead, Canada, now bound for Paris, is set to clash with Slovenia, while Lithuania will square off against Serbia, and Germany will meet Latvia in the quarter-finals, promising more thrilling basketball action in the days to come.
