Paris Olympics: Canada stays unbeaten in men’s basketball

Canada’s RJ Barrett, right, goes into the broadcast table in a men’s basketball game against Australia at the Paris Olympics 2024, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

RJ Barrett had 24 points and seven rebounds and Canada stayed unbeaten in group play at the  Paris Olympics with a 93-83 victory over Australia on Tuesday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 16 points as Canada improved to 2-0 and remained on track to advance when the tournament field is trimmed from 12 to eight teams and shifts to Paris next week for the knockout stage.

Canada coach Jordi Fernandez said he likes the position his team is in because it’s able to control its own destiny.

“We’ve got to keep growing because we’re a team that’s never played together,” Fernandez said. “I think in five or 10 years from now we want to be all the way to the top of the rankings. But we have to start at some point, and I like the direction that we’re taking it.”

Josh Giddey led Australia with 19 points. Dante Exum finished with 15.

Canada plays Spain in its final group-stage matchup. Australia faces Greece next.

“They’re hungry for a win and hungry to stay in the tournament,” Exum said of facing 0-2 Greece. “So we need to be ready and do as much.”

The game was tight throughout the first half. But Barrett kept finding seams in Australia’s defense, helping his team take its first double-digit lead on a 3-pointer with 5:13 remaining. Canada then pushed it up to 83-72 with about 4 1/2 minutes to play.

Fernandez said his team’s physicality was lacking in a first half in which it surrendered 30 points in the paint. The pressure was ratcheted up in the second half, though, with Canada deflecting 22 passes and limiting Australia to only 16 points in the paint.

“That ignited our offense,” Fernandez said.