The opening day of the 2023 FIBA World Cup could be best described as the day of the almost-upsets, as heavily-favoured nations such as Australia, Italy, Montenegro, and the Dominican Republic all found themselves down in the second quarter or later of their matchups against lower-ranked sides before coming back to win.
The day went by without any real surprises until Canada tipped off against France in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the entire group stage. It didn’t disappoint, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading Canada to a 30-point blowout victory over the No. 5 ranked country in the world, sending a statement to the rest of the basketball world.
THE RESULTS
Italy 81, Angola 67 in Manila
Australia 98, Finland 72 in Okinawa
Montenegro 91, Mexico 71 in Manila
Latvia 109, Lebanon 70 in Jakarta
Dominican Republic 87, Philippines 81 in Manila
Germany 81, Japan 63 in Okinawa
Lithuania 93, Egypt 67 in Manila
Canada 95, France 65 in Jakarta
MAIN TALKING POINTS
Filipino Fervor
The Philippines has long been one of the most basketball-crazed nations not just in Asia, but in the world. And they got their chance to show off in their first opportunity to host a FIBA World Cup since 1978, selling out the Philippine Arena in their capital city of Manila as a record 38,115 fans watched them take on the 23rd ranked Dominican Republic side — the most ever for an indoor World Cup game. The crowd was electric from the opening tip, screaming for every made bucket by their home side as their lone NBA player, Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, got it going in the second quarter and dominated as a scorer and facilitator, finishing with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
While the Philippines were winning as late as the fourth quarter, Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns was not to be outdone. Playing for his native Dominican Republic for the first time since 2013, Towns powered his side to a tight 87-81 win with 26 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 15/16 of his free throws. Regardless of the loss, it was a monumental day for basketball in the Philippines.
Patty Mills turns back the clock
For a team with nine NBA players on its roster — the second most in the tournament behind only the United States — Australia looked jittery for most of the first half against a 24th-ranked Finish side, going into the break up by just five. However, it was the 35-year-old team captain Patty Mills who kept Australia in the game with timely buckets throughout the game, finishing with 25 points on 11/22 shooting. Dallas Maverick guard Dante Exum helped finish things off for the Aussies when he entered the game for starting point guard Josh Giddey in the third quarter when they outscored Finland 25-14 behind Exum’s 10 points and 4 assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads team-wide effort as Canada dominates France
Gilgeous-Alexander had it going late for the Canadians, scoring 27 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists in their blowout win over France. But it was a team-wide effort from Canada, starting with Dillon Brooks, who had two big dunks in the early going to set the tone for the Canadians after they went down 7-0 to start the game.
Then it was Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Lu Dort, coming off the bench to spark the Canadians to a 10-3 run in the second quarter. The starting frontcourt of Kelly Olynyk and Dwight Powell tightened things up in the second half, leading the defensive effort as Canada held France to just 8 points in the third quarter. And Gilgeous-Alexander took them home, making tough shot after tough shot to put the French side away.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Jordan Clarkson wasn’t able to get what would have been a cinderella win for the home nation, but he did have a stellar game scoring the ball through all sorts of defensive pressure. And no bucket was prettier than the one he scored at the beginning of the second quarter, when he went behind his back to break down his defender before getting into the lane and hitting a tough learning floater over the Dominicans.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We were very serious from the beginning and for the entire game. One historical moment for Latvian basketball, first time ever in a World Cup and first win ever. That’s why I told the guys to celebrate this moment. Thanks to our fans who were amazing from the very beginning when the team arrived at the arena. They created an unbelievable atmosphere on the court. At the moment of the national anthem and from the very first basket, they created an unbelievable atmosphere that will stay forever in my best memories.” -Team Latvia head coach, Luca Banchi
“We got our ass kicked,” Evan Fournier, France
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
3. Nikola Vucevic, Montenegro: Vucevic was not going to let Montenegro lose to a feisty Mexican side that kept fighting until the bitter end, pouring in 27 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks with extremely efficient shooting, going 11/15 from the field and 3/3 from three. He ended the game with a clutch block and three to put the Mexicans away.
2. Patty Mills, Australia: Mills was Australia’s best player in a game where some of their NBA stars looked uncomfortable, coming out of the gate firing to go for 25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals on 11/22 shooting from the field. At 35 years old, he is still Australia’s primary scoring option.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada: After a substandard start for Gilgeous-Alexander, who went 0-5 to begin the game, Shai broke open the game for Canada in the third quarter when they outscored the French 25-8, doing it with an assortment of crafty foul-drawing, mid-range shooting, and threes. He finished with 27-13-6, becoming the first Canadian player to record a 20-point double-double in a senior men’s World Cup game.
LOOKING AHEAD
The group stage continues on Saturday in what is shaping up to be another great day of hoops, with four of the top-seven ranked nations in the world all in action for the first time. Luka Doncic and Team Slovenia will take on Venezuela (7:30 a.m. E.T.), the Nikola Jokic-less Serbians play Kyle Anderson and China (8:00 a.m. E.T.), Anthony Edwards and the United States play New Zealand (8:40 a.m. E.T.) in Manila in front of what will be a sold out crowd, before world No. 1 Spain takes on Cote d’Ivoire (9:30 a.m. E.T.).
