CANADA sent shockwaves to the rest of the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup field after a 30-point thrashing of France, 95-65, at the Indonesia Arena on Friday.
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Oklahoma City's rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shone the brightest with a double-double of 27 markers and 13 boards.
Since leading 21-14 in the second quarter, the Les Bleus were leapfrogged by Canada's fearsome young guns who extended their edge to as much as 34 points in the final frame.
Canadian skipper Kelly Olynk had 18 points while Dillon Brooks and Nickeil Alexander-Walkers had 12 points each.
Apart from the lopsided scoreline, Canada also made history with its first World Cup win against a European side in 37 years — the last being against the Netherlands in 1986.
The Road Warriors have also captured only its second win in 11 previous World Cup prelims matches and a first against France in the global showpiece.
Canada takes on Lebanon while France plays Latvia in the second matchday of Group H on Sunday.
The scores:
Canada (95) - Gilgeous-Alexander 27, Olynyk 18, Brooks 12, Alexander-Walker 12, Dort 7, Powell 6, Barrett 5, Alexander 5, Ejim 3, Edey 0, Scrubb 0, Bell-Haynes 0.
France (65) - Fournier 21, de Colo 12, Lessort 12, Gobert 8, Francisco 5, Yabusele 4, Ouattara 2, Okobo 1, Batum 0, Tarpey 0, Cordinier 0, Fall 0.
Quarterscores: 14-18; 43-40; 68-48; 95-65.
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