Canada beat Slovenia to finish Luka Doncic’s Basketball World Cup dream and attain the semi-finals for the primary time on Wednesday, whereas Germany overcame a poor effort on offence to affix them within the closing 4.
Canada outbattled a Slovenia staff led by Dallas Mavericks famous person Doncic 100-89 in Manila to arrange a showdown with Serbia on Friday.
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Germany will face the US within the semi-finals the identical day after beating giant-killers Latvia.
Germany and Serbia additionally certified for the Paris Olympics as the 2 highest-placed European groups on the World Cup, with Slovenia and Latvia eradicated.
Doncic was thrown out of the sport within the fourth quarter towards Canada after choosing up his second technical foul.
Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned his staff weren’t happy with what they achieved and set his sights greater than the semi-finals.
“Simply placing on the jersey is an honour in itself, and to win is one other good feeling,” mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 31 factors and had 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
“We’re not happy. We wish to win gold.”
Canada got here by a bruising encounter that noticed each Doncic and Dillon Brooks ejected within the fourth quarter.
Brooks was engaged in a working battle with Doncic the complete sport, utilizing defensive methods to throw the Slovenian star off rhythm.
Doncic admitted that his feelings bought the higher of him and vowed to “be higher for my staff” sooner or later.
“I believe all people is aware of what the frustration was,” he mentioned.
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“Enjoying for the nationwide staff, there’s plenty of feelings.
“Lots of instances I’ve to regulate myself, which I’m having issues with.” The 2 groups have been locked at 50-50 on the halftime break.
Canada started to edge forward after the interval, helped by a well timed three-pointer from Brooks that gave his staff a seven-point lead.
Centre Kelly Olynyk mentioned the semi-final towards Serbia could be “one other battle”.
“We’re attempting to do one thing that Canada basketball has by no means completed, and we’ve bought to do it collectively,” he mentioned.
“We’ve bought two extra video games and we’ve simply bought to maintain enjoying the best way we play.”
Earlier within the day, Germany ended Latvia’s dream run on the match with a nervy 81-79 win to squeeze into the semi-finals and a conflict with the US.
Debutants Latvia had already overwhelmed defending champions Spain and Tokyo Olympics silver-medallists France on their technique to the quarter-finals.
Germany head coach Gordon Herbert mentioned his staff had “somewhat little bit of a stinker on the offensive finish”, with playmaker Dennis Schroder scoring solely 4 of his 26 field-goal makes an attempt.
“That’s in all probability the worst sport I ever performed in my profession,” mentioned Schroder.
“However we’re nonetheless within the semi-finals so shout out to all these guys within the locker room for serving to me win this sport.
“That’s the rationale why we’re all collectively and we’re a particular staff.” Latvia gave the unbeaten Germans a fright by leaping out to a 10-point lead after solely 5 minutes, with Davis Bertans in lethal type from three-point vary.
Germany finally gained the higher hand earlier than a barnstorming end from Latvia made the rating nearer than Germany would have favored.
“I believe one of many strengths of this group is we’re a staff, and our bench the final three or 4 video games has been excellent,” mentioned Herbert.
“We’re in a position to play 12 guys if crucial.” Bertans mentioned he was extraordinarily happy with Latvia’s efficiency. “We battled in each single sport,” mentioned Bertans, whose brother Dairis — the staff captain — suffered a tournament-ending harm within the first spherical.
“I believe we put ourselves able to win, not due to any particular person gamers — as a result of we performed like a staff, we performed the proper method and sadly we couldn’t get it completed on the finish.”
SEMI FINAL FIXTURES (ALL TIMES AEST)
Serbia v Canada, Friday September 8 at 6:45pm
USA v Germany, Friday September 8 at 10:40pm