Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Canada past Spain in Paris Olympics
OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada to an 88-85 win over Spain on Friday in a group phase game of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Canadian men’s basketball team will begin the 2024 Paris Olympic knockout stages with a quarterfinals game against France on Tuesday.
Canada, which is led by OKC Thunder guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort, finished first in Group A play with a 3-0 record. France finished second in Group B play with a 2-1 record.
Here’s what you need to know:
Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics live with Fubo (free trial)
Quarterfinals: Germany-Greece | Australia-Serbia | Canada-France | United States-Brazil
Canada trimmed the deficit to five points midway through the fourth quarter, but it couldn’t complete the comeback. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 27 points and five rebounds, while Dort scored eight points.
Yabusele led France with 22 points and five rebounds, while Cordinier scored 20 points.
Canada has been eliminated from the tournament. France will face Germany in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. CT Thursday.
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada basketball stunned by France in Olympic quarterfinals
Canada cut into France’s lead thanks in large part to Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored nine points in the quarter. That brought his game-high total to 22.
But France continued to do damage at the free throw line. It went 5 for 6 from the charity stripe in the quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander came alive for Canada. He scored 11 straight points late in the second quarter, bringing his total to 13 entering halftime.
But France still expanded its lead, and it went 19 for 25 from the free throw line in the first half. Cordinier led the way with 13 points in the first half.
Canada averaged 89 points per game in group play, but it struggled to get anything going in the first quarter. It went 3 for 15 from the floor (1 for 7 from deep).
Meanwhile, France went 7 for 15 from the floor (3 for 9 from deep). Cordinier led the way with 10 points and two rebounds.
Canada will start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Dillon Brooks, RJ Barrett and Dwight Powell.
France will start Frank Ntilikina, Isaia Cordinier, Nicolas Batum, Guerschon Yabusele and Victor Wembanyama.
What time is Canada vs France in 2024 Paris Olympic quarterfinals?
- Date: Tuesday, Aug. 6
- Time: 11 a.m. CT
- Where: Bercy Arena in Paris, France
More: Olympic basketball schedule, bracket: How to watch, stream 2024 men’s knockout rounds
How to watch, stream Canada vs France in 2024 Paris Olympic quarterfinals
- Streaming: Peacock and NBCOlympics.com
More: Olympic basketball predictions: Can anyone stop USA Basketball in men’s knockout round?
Team Canada basketball roster
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- RJ Barrett, G/F (Toronto Raptors)
- Khem Birch, C (Girona)
- Dillon Brooks, F (Houston Rockets)
- Luguentz Dort, G/F (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Melvin Ejim, F (Unicaja)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Trey Lyles, F (Sacramento Kings)
- Jamal Murray, G (Denver Nuggets)
- Andrew Nembhard, G (Indiana Pacers)
- Kelly Olynyk, F/C (Toronto Raptors)
- Dwight Powell, F/C (Dallas Mavericks)
More: 2024 Paris Olympics basketball: Canada roster, schedule and everything else to know
Team France basketball roster
- Andrew Albicy, G (Gran Canaria)
- Nicolas Batum, F (Los Angeles Clippers)
- Isaia Cordinier, G (Virtus Bologna)
- Bilal Coulibaly, F (Washington Wizards)
- Nando de Colo, G (ASVEL)
- Evan Fournier, G (Free agent)
- Rudy Gobert, C (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Mathias Lessort, C (Panathinaikos)
- Frank Ntilikina, G (Partizan)
- Matthew Strazel, G (Monaco)
- Victor Wembanyama, F (San Antonio Spurs)
- Guerschon Yabusele, F (Real Madrid)
More: Team USA or Team Canada? OKC Thunder fans are divided for possible Paris Olympics game
When does Canada basketball play in 2024 Olympics?
More: Canada vs France: Time, TV channel, streaming, prediction for 2024 Olympic quarterfinals
Canada vs France highlights in 2024 Paris Olympic quarterfinals
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘ready’ for possible Canada vs USA basketball matchup in Olympics
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.