Day 10 was set up to be one of the best of the 2023 World Cup, with four win-or-go-home games all coming on the final day of the group stage. And to make it even more interesting, each of those four games pitted one nation from the Americas against one from Europe in a high-stakes battle for continental pride.
The European teams won out until the final game of the day, when Canada won the match of the tournament for the Americas in a historic win over Spain. In the end, Italy and Serbia advanced out of Group I, while Latvia and Canada advanced from Group L. Meanwhile, Lithuania and Germany clinched the No. 1 seeds in the groups J and K, respectively, with wins over the United States and Slovenia.
Here’s everything you need to know from Day 10 of the FIBA World Cup:
RESULTS
Group I:
Italy def. Puerto Rico 73-57
Serbia def. Dominican Republic 112-79
Group J:
Montenegro def. Greece 73-69
Lithuania def. U.S. 110-104
Group K:
Australia def. Georgia 100-84
Germany def. Slovenia 100-71
Group L:
Latvia def. Brazil 104-84
Canada def. Spain 88-85
MAIN TALKING POINTS
Italy and Serbia advance from Group I
Italy used its size to physically dominate a smaller Puerto Rican team, winning 73-57 and advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1998 when it finished sixth.
Italy out-rebounded the Puerto Ricans 48-29, with 19 offensive rebounds leading to a whopping 22 second-chance points. It also outscored Puerto Rico 34-22 in the paint. The Italians were led by point guard Stefano Tonut, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, while forward Giampaolo Ricci took them home after scoring 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Later in the day, Serbia looked like a well-oiled machine in its 112-72 routing of the Dominican Republic, playing its preferred style in forcing 21 turnovers — including seven from Karl-Anthony Towns himself — and got out on the fast break, scoring 34 fast-break points and 29 points off turnovers. While it was a full team-effort from the Serbians — who look like a medal contender despite not having Nikola Jokic — Bogdan Bogdanovic has consistently been their best player, running the show as the defacto point guard as he finished with 20 points, five assists, and three steals on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the field, 3-of-3 from three.
Latvia and Canada advance from Group L
Latvia played a nearly perfect game to advance to the quarterfinals in the nation’s first ever appearance in a World Cup, defeating Brazil 104-84. It was a complete team win, with five double-digit scorers and 52 points from the bench, scoring 104 points despite being without team captain Dairis Bertans and Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis. Latvia moved the ball incredibly well against a tough, physical Brazilian defence, making the extra pass time and again, earnings assists on 24 of its 38 made baskets while shooting 58 per cent from the field, 48 per cent from three, and 100 per cent from the free-throw line. With statement wins over France, Spain and Brazil, Latvia looks like a real dark horse contender the rest of the way.
Canada and Spain played the game of the tournament to close out the day, with Canada coming out on top, 88-85, after not one but two significant comebacks to edge out the former World Champions. The win not only sent Canada through to its first quarterfinal of a World Cup since 1994, but it also clinched it a spot in the Olympics for the first time in 24 years.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way once again with 30 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. He was helped by RJ Barrett, who had a massive bounce-back game with 16 points and five rebounds, and Dwight Powell, who played phenomenal defence throughout. Meanwhile, Dillon Brooks played hero down the stretch by hitting a pair of big threes and finishing the game with 22 points and five rebounds.
Germany and Lithuania claim top seeds in groups J and K
After falling into a 25-11 hole after the first quarter of play against Slovenia, Dennis Schroder and the Germans stormed back to win 100-71, outscoring Luka Doncic and the Slovenians 89-46 from the second quarter onward. The comeback started with Schroder and Daniel Theis pick-and-rolls, which shredded the Slovenian defence as they generated good look after good look, with Schroder and Theis finishing with a combined 38 points and 11 assists.
But the second half belonged to Orlando Magic wing Moritz Wagner. With his brother Franz out until at least the knockout round with an ankle injury, Moritz scored all of his 10 points in the second half — along with eight rebounds and two steals — as he led the Germans to a blowout victory and the No. 1 seed in Group J.
Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas and Lithuania shocked the basketball world with a 110-104 win over the heavily-favoured United States to claim the top spot in Group K. The Americans struggled with the FIBA refereeing, going against a big, physical Lithuanian team — which is understandable given that they don’t have a single player with international experience at the senior level — picking up 27 personal fouls for 25 Lithuania free-throws. With a post-up heavy offence, Lithuania took advantage of the U.S. preference to play small, getting big men Jaren Jackson Jr. and Kessler Edwards into foul trouble early while winning the rebounding battle 43-37, including 18 offensive rebounds for 17 second-chance points. Lithuania and Germany are the only undefeated teams remaining in the tournament, with perfect 5-0 records.
PLAY OF THE DAY
You don’t have to win the game to make it onto the highlight reel, as Puerto Rican big man George Conditt showed with this massive poster dunk on Italy’s Simone Fontecchio:
Meanwhile, Latvia earns the team-play of the day award with this incredible passing sequence that was emblematic of how it played in its win over Brazil, moving the ball from side to side with quick decisions, and scoring easy baskets as a result.
MOMENT OF THE DAY
Canada is going to the Olympics for the first time since 2000. Here is the deciding moment:
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It’s hard to talk. It was a tough game for the beginning. It’s a big win for our country, for the players, the coaches, to play against the best in the world. I’m happy for my country, for my family, for our families and we don’t need to stop now. We don’t need to celebrate much, we have a do-or-die against Serbia in 48 hours.” – Vaidas Kariniauskas, Lithuania
“This is some of the most fun basketball I have ever played. I had some of the most joy playing with these guys. I know coming here the world just expected us to fall flat on our face and not be a contender and not win games and just be games that are easy ones for people. But we didn’t do that at all. We heard the talk and I hope we made our country proud with the way we were able to compete, the way that we fought. And the biggest thing is the way we made the country believe.” – Karl-Anthony Towns, Dominican Republic
“’Sauga city stand up!” – Dillon Brooks and RJ Barrett, Canada
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada: Gilgeous-Alexander looks like the best player in this tournament and added another storied game to his resume with a 30-point, four-rebound, seven-assist, and three-steal performance to send Canada through to the quarterfinals and to their first Olympics in 24 years.
2. Santi Aldama, Spain: Aldama did everything in his power to keep things close for the Spaniards, coming off the bench to drop 20 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three to lead Spain’s reserves in scoring.
3. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia: Bogdanovic shot a perfect 7-for-7 from the field as he led Serbia to a blowout win over the Dominican Republic, finishing with 20 points, five assists and three steals.
LOOKING AHEAD
The quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup are all set: Lithuania vs. Serbia (4:45 a.m. ET) and Italy vs. USA (8:40 a.m. ET) will be played on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Then, Germany vs. Latvia (4:45 a.m. ET) and Canada vs. Slovenia (8:30 a.m. ET) will go on Wednesday, Sept. 6 to wrap up the quarterfinals. Monday, Sept. 4 is an off day.
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