Luka Doncic argued with the referees all night time. And that’s why he wasn’t round within the last minutes, as Canada clinched a visit to the Basketball World Cup semifinals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 factors, RJ Barrett added 24 and Canada topped Slovenia 100-89 on Wednesday night time. The win sends Canada right into a semifinal matchup with Serbia on Friday.
Doncic had 26 factors for Slovenia, however was ejected with 6:37 left after selecting up his second technical of the sport – each of them coming after he argued with referees over calls or non-calls. Slovenia was down by 15 on the time and wound up getting inside 9 shortly after Doncic departed, but it surely wasn’t sufficient.
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Doncic returned to the courtroom, in flip-flops as an alternative of sneakers, as time expired to congratulate Canadian gamers.
Canada — which noticed Dillon Brooks ejected shortly earlier than Doncic departed, additionally after a technical — will play Serbia in Friday’s semifinals, with the U.S. and Germany set to fulfill within the different semifinal. The winners of these video games will play for the World Cup on Sunday night time.
Slovenia was bidding to make the World Cup semifinals for the primary time since gaining its independence in 1991. Slovenia will play Lithuania on Thursday within the begin of the comfort playoffs that will likely be used to find out fifth by means of eighth place.
The win was huge for Canada, and large for Germany and Serbia. The highest two finishers from Europe are assured computerized berths into the Paris Olympics — and with Slovenia now assured of ending no higher than fifth, whereas Germany and Serbia can’t end decrease than fourth, it’s these two nations who’ll be heading to France subsequent summer time.
Slovenia nonetheless has an opportunity on the Olympics, however should win a qualifying match subsequent July.
Canada received the silver medal on the 1936 Olympics — and in 22 journeys to the Olympics or what’s now referred to as the World Cup since, it has not added to that medal assortment. And it doesn’t matter what occurs the remainder of the best way in Manila, this will likely be Canada’s greatest World Cup end; it was sixth on the tournaments in 1978 and 1982.
The primary half couldn’t have been extra even. It was 50-50 after 20 minutes — Canada received the primary quarter 26-24, Slovenia received the second quarter 26-24, the most important lead for every crew within the half was precisely 4 factors, and even the rebound whole was tied 14-14 on the break. Forwards and backwards they went, with 18 lead adjustments and 6 ties in these opening two quarters.
Canada modified all the things with a 19-5 run to start out the third quarter and saved the lead the remainder of the best way.