Dominican Republic Rallies Previous Italy; Canada Wins in World Cup Romp

Latvia gamers have fun after defeating France of their Basketball World Cup group H match on the Indonesia Enviornment stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Picture/Achmad Ibrahim)Achmad Ibrahim

France got here to the World Cup planning to win gold. It will not even make the second spherical, a fully beautiful growth for the reigning Olympic silver medalists.

Latvia received 22 factors from Arturs Zagars and shocked France 88-86 Sunday evening in a Group H recreation at Jakarta, Indonesia. The end result despatched Latvia and Canada by to the second spherical, and meant France — which gained the bronze on the final two World Cups — can not end higher than seventeenth place this yr.

“We let lots of people down, ourselves first,” French ahead Nicolas Batum mentioned.

Rolands Smits added 20 factors and Davis Bertans had 15 factors, as Latvia rallied from a 13-point deficit. It took the lead for the primary time with 37.7 seconds left and held on when Sylvain Francisco missed a 3-pointer on the buzzer.

“Congrats to Latvia,” Batum mentioned. “They earned it. They deserved it.”

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Evan Fournier had 27 factors for France, which misplaced to Canada in its opener.

The momentum swung in the midst of the fourth quarter when France playmaker Nando de Colo was ejected after receiving his second unsportsmanlike foul.

Latvia and Canada will play for Group H’s prime spot on Tuesday.

GROUP H — CANADA 128, LEBANON 73

At Jakarta, RJ Barrett scored 17 factors as Canada overpowered Lebanon to proceed its good begin.

Trae Bell-Haynes added 15 factors and eight assists for Canada (2-0), which opened with a powerful 95-65 win over France. Canada set a senior males’s nationwide workforce file for factors — it scored 126 in opposition to Jordan on the World Cup 4 years in the past — and set a match file with 44 assists.

FIBA started retaining help information in 1984.

After recording 27 factors in his World Cup debut, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 17 minutes. Canada used 11 gamers and 9 reached double figures; the others had been Melvin Ejim (13), Kelly Olynyk (12), Zach Edey (12), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (12), Kyle Anderson (10) and Dillon Brooks (10).

Canada shot 71%, and performed with out Lu Dort, who was held out with soreness. Former NBA participant Omari Spellman led Lebanon with 16 factors.

Canada performs Latvia on Tuesday in its remaining group recreation, whereas Lebanon (0-2) faces France.

GROUP A — DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 87, ITALY 82

At Manila, Karl-Anthony Cities and Andres Feliz every scored 24 factors, and the Dominican Republic related on 16 3-pointers to beat Italy and transfer to the brink of the second spherical.

Feliz had seven of these 3s for the winners (2-0). Cities completed with 11 rebounds and Jean Montero had 12 factors, 9 assists, six rebounds and three steals.

“Getting the job finished,” Cities mentioned. “I believe we did an awesome job and located a technique to win. Andres and everyone down the road was wonderful. This was an awesome workforce win.”

A win over Angola on Tuesday would clinch a second-round journey for the Dominican Republic. The workforce may lose that recreation and nonetheless advance, based mostly on different outcomes.

Italy (1-1) led 12-0 to open the sport however led solely 39-38 on the half — and misplaced coach Gianmarco Pozzecco to a second-quarter ejection after he picked up his second technical foul.

The sport modified solely within the third; the Dominican Republic outscored Italy 31-17 in these 10 minutes, then held off a rally within the fourth.

Marco Spissu led Italy with 17 factors, whereas Simone Fontecchio scored 13, Giampaolo Ricco had 12 and Achille Polonara added 10.

Italy stays alive within the race for the second spherical and performs the Philippines to finish group play on Tuesday. It is a must-win for the Philippines to have any likelihood.

“It’s going to be thrilling,” Italy’s Luigi Datome mentioned. “It’s going to be a pleasant environment and all of the gamers wish to play in a pleasant environment.”

GROUP A — ANGOLA 80, PHILIPPINES 70

At Manila, Gerson Goncalves scored 17 factors, Gerson Domingos added 15 and Angola erased an 11-point deficit to beat the Philippines.

Bruno Fernando scored 14 for Angola (1-1), which trailed 28-17 early within the second quarter — after which outscored the hosts 56-29 over the subsequent 24 minutes.

Even with the loss, the Philippines (0-2) stays alive within the race for a second-round spot. It should beat Italy Tuesday and get some assist.

Jordan Clarkson had 21 factors for the Philippines.

GROUP E — GERMANY 85, AUSTRALIA 82

At Okinawa, Dennis Schroder scored 30 factors and added eight assists for Germany (2-0). The win, mixed with Japan’s win over Finland later Sunday, despatched Germany to the second spherical.

Maodo Lo scored 20 for Germany, which trailed by 4 coming into the ultimate quarter however opened it on a 10-0 run.

Australia tied the sport twice within the fourth. Each occasions, Schroder had a direct reply to reclaim the lead. His basket with 46 seconds left put Germany forward for good.

Patty Mills, as he did within the first recreation, led Australia with 21 factors, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Matisse Thybulle had 17 for Australia, which was solely 9 for 16 from the foul line.

Germany performed with out Franz Wagner, who sat with an ankle harm.

Australia faces Japan — the house workforce within the group — on Tuesday, with the winner shifting to the second spherical. Germany finishes group play in opposition to Finland.

GROUP E — JAPAN 98, FINLAND 88

At Okinawa, Joshua Hawkinson scored 28 factors for Japan (1-1) because it put collectively an amazing fourth quarter to beat Finland (0-2) and eradicate the Finns from knockout-stage rivalry.

Japan outscored Finland 38-15 within the remaining 10:03, erasing what was a 13-point deficit. Yuki Kawamura scored 25 for Japan, together with a three-point play with 4:35 left that gave the hosts the lead for good. He added a 3-pointer about 40 seconds later and Japan pulled away.

Lauri Markkanen topped Finland with 27 factors and 12 rebounds.

GROUP D

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MONTENEGRO 89, EGYPT 74

At Manila, Nikola Vucevic had 16 factors and 7 rebounds and Montenegro (2-0) had little bother with Egypt.

Nikola Ivanovic scored 15 for Montenegro, whereas Kendrick Perry scored 11 and Vladimir Mihailovic and Dino Radoncic completed with 10 apiece.

Ehab Amin led all scorers with 26 factors for Egypt (0-2), whereas Anas Mahmoud and Patrick Gardner every completed with 13.

A serious distinction was factors off turnovers: Montenegro turned Egypt’s 22 giveaways into 30 factors, whereas Egypt managed 17 factors off Montenegro’s 16 turnovers.

Montenegro performs Lithuania on Tuesday — each groups are going to the second spherical, and Tuesday will solely determine who wins the group — whereas Egypt will tackle Mexico.

GROUP D — LITHUANIA 96, MEXICO 66

At Manila, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 factors and 10 rebounds, Rokas Jokubaitis added 15 factors and Lithuania (2-0) rolled into the second spherical.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas scored 14 for the winners, whereas Donatas Motiejunas and Ignas Brazdeikis every scored 10.

Gabriel Giron scored 13 for Mexico (0-2). Israel Gutierrez, Orlando Mendez and Pako Cruz had 10 apiece.

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