JAKARTA (Indonesia) – Brazil pulled off a stunning result at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as they defeated Canada 69-65, in a thrilling contest at the Indonesia Arena. Yago Santos delivered the telling blows in the fourth quarter to help Brazil prevail in their Second Round matchup and set up an exciting finale for Group L on Sunday. This win ensured Brazil’s mastery over Canada in the FIBA Basketball World Cup having extended their winning streak over them to six, though the last came in 1978.
Canada were comfortably ahead, 55-45, in the dying second of the third quarter before a buzzer-beating triple by Lucas Dias trimmed the deficit to just seven points. That lit a second wind in Brazil, who eventually took the lead with 2 minutes left thanks to a Caboclo split from the free throw line, 60-59. That was the moment Yago Santos took over as he hit two drives one after the other to give the underdogs a 64-60 lead they would not relinquish. Santos hit the biggest shots, but those would not have mattered had Bruno Caboclo not kept Brazil in the game. Caboclo put up a monster double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. He also added 3 blocks and 2 steals while shooting 7-of-13 from the floor.
Brazil’s win resulted in all four Group L teams sporting identical 3-1 records. This means that each game on Sunday will be a veritable pair of knockout affairs. Brazil can advance to the Quarter-Finals with a win over giant-slaying Latvia. Meanwhile, Canada will have their hands full trying to survive defending champions Spain as their unbeaten start came to an end in dramatic fashion.
fiba.basketball
