Canada Kicks Off Olympic Basketball Campaign with Win Over Greece

Canada has started its Olympic men’s basketball journey on a high note, securing an 86-79 victory over Greece in their opening match of Group A at the Paris Games.

In a thrilling game played at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, RJ Barrett and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up as key players for Canada, scoring 23 and 21 points respectively. Dillon Brooks and Jamal Murray contributed with 13 and 8 points, clinching the game for Canada with some important free throws in the final moments.

The win marks a significant moment for Canada, who last participated in the Olympic Games back in 2000. Prior to heading to Paris, Canada had a decent run in exhibition play, finishing 2-1 and sweetening the experience by winning bronze at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo putting on a stellar performance for Greece with a game-high 34 points, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Canadian squad. This loss puts Greece at 0-1 in the tournament, after they qualified for the Games by winning a qualifying tournament in Piraeus.

The game was a nail-biter, with Greece closing the gap to just two points towards the end of the first half. However, Canada managed to hold on to their lead and kept the pressure on as the game progressed.

As the teams battled back and forth with momentum shifts, Canada took larger leads at various points. Brooks helped to re-establish a comfortable margin in the second quarter, and a crucial three-pointer from Lu Dort in the final minutes added some cushion for Canada.

The Canadians will now look ahead to their next match against Australia on Tuesday, with hopes of extending their winning momentum. Meanwhile, Greece will aim to bounce back as they prepare for their upcoming game against Spain.