World Cup: USA, Canada Aim to Return to Winning Ways

Despite Brazil and Lithuania taking down the powerhouse teams Canada and USA, respectively, in the second group stage, both North American teams advanced to the quarterfinals at the World Cup.

To note, Brazil defeated Canada 69-65, led by former NBA player Bruno Caboclo’s 19 points and 13 rebounds. The Canadians came up short as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23 points) got little help from his teammates: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (3 points on 1/9 shooting), RJ Barrett (4 points on 1/8 shooting), and Kelly Olynyk (9 points on 2/8 shooting).

Then looking at the other matchup, Anthony Edwards scored 35 points, but the Americans still fell short as Lithuania held on for a 110-104 win in a group-effort win, with nine players on the team scoring 9+ points. Notably, this is Team USA’s first loss, after winning the five exhibition games and first four games of the tournament.

“It makes it real,” guard Austin Reaves said. “Obviously, now, it’s win or go home. We see the reactions. We obviously know that everybody wants to beat us in particular. We see the joy that they get from that. That taste in your mouth, it don’t feel good.”

Out of the eight countries remaining, Germany and Lithuania remain the only undefeated teams heading into the knockout stage of the tournament. The quarterfinals schedule is set, on Tuesday, September 5, Lithuania will vs. Serbia at 4:45 a.m. ET. and Italy vs. USA will take place at 8:40 a.m. ET. Then on Wednesday, September 6, Germany will vs. Latvia at 4:45 a.m. ET and Canada face off with Slovenia at 8:30 a.m. ET. 

As USA will be going against Italy in their next matchup, this game will be extra meaningful for Paolo Banchero, who has dual citizenship both in Italy and the U.S. Despite his father’s Italian nationality, Banchero ultimately chose to represent Team USA in the World Cup, to follow in his mother Rhonda Smith-Banchero’s footsteps, who played on the U.S. Women’s National Team in the 1990s. The Italians were disappointed in Banchero’s decision, as they will now have to try to guard Banchero in addition to the other stars on the USA roster. 

“The guys on this team, from playing against them, I know they all make winning plays,” Banchero said when talking about his USA teammates. “And I think we’re all going to buy in, as a collective, and try to win this gold medal.”