canada led 49-38 at the half but spain got within a point with 2.7 seconds remaining before gilgeous-alexander, who had uncharacteristically struggled at the free throw line earlier, hit a pair.
“obviously, they didn’t want to go away,” gilgeous-alexander told reporters in lille. “they were playing for their lives. we knew that going to the game, it’s a really good team. we played them last summer, and we know it. they gave us everything they had and it was a good game.”
the nba mvp runner-up knows there is still plenty to be shored up by canada moving forward. back in 2000, the most recent canadian olympic appearance in men’s basketball, canada stormed through the group stage, even beating mighty yugoslavia, only to lose at the wrong time to france and get eliminated. that team finished seventh despite going 5-2. tuesday could bring a chance at revenge nearly a quarter of a century later.
canada struggled on the boards against spain and will need to be a lot better, whether it’s wembanyama and rudy gobert next, or jokic and the other serbian giants.
“yeah, rebounding tonight. being disciplined defensively, fouling jump shooters and then that’s pretty much it i’d say. as long as we keep getting better, we’ll be all right,” gilgeous-alexander said. “fouling jump shooters, rebounding, being a little bit more disciplined, and then i think stagnant in certain areas of the game, offensively.”