Paris ‘24: Canada defeats Australia 93-83, Boomers’ hopes of progression on edge

The Boomers had their opportunities against Canada but failed to maintain composure in the back half and now need to beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece to secure a quarter-finals spot. REPORT AND PLAYER RATINGS.

A dominant second half from Canada gave them a 93-83 win over the Boomers. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

Dust yourself off and prepare to fight for your Olympic lives against the premier basketball athlete on the planet in the ‘Greek Freak’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.

That’s the emphatic message from Boomers coach Brian Goorjian after his side failed to contain Canada’s NBA stars in a 10-point loss that has left Australia’s campaign on a knife’s edge.

The Aussies must beat Antetokounmpo’s Greeks in Lille on Friday to lock in a top three finish in their pool to advance to the quarter-finals in Paris.

Goorjian revealed he delivered a blunt yet motivational message to his Boomers players in the locker room post-game.

“I just made sure that the guys understood that it isn’t just one game, it’s a tournament,” Goorjian said ahead of a fearsome match up against Antetokounmpo, who stands at almost seven foot and weighs in at 110 kilos.

“And all our futures in Paris lay on this next game (against Greece).

Canada’s NBA stars stifled the Boomers in the second half. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)

“We’re playing the best athlete in the world and one of the best players in the world. “He (Giannis) is around the basket and he is off the elbows, which is something that we haven’t faced before.

“But the good thing about how this tournament works is that you get two chances.”

As expected, Canada’s NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wowed the crowd in Lille with his silky skills to net 16 points in the commanding 93-83 victory.

Gilgeous-Alexander looked unstoppable at stages with his crafty ability to get in the paint and find points.

Boomers defensive beast Dyson Daniels did his best to limit SGA’s brilliance with his inspector gadget-like hands.

Daniels hassled the Canadians all game, while he added eight points in another classy display for his first Olympics.

Jock Landale and Jack McVeigh defend hard against Canada’s RJ Barrett. Picture: Thomas Coex / AFP

Goorjian was impressed with the Bendigo-born guard’s defensive display against SGA.

“I thought he (Dyson) did a great job,” he said.

“He (Shai) is a tremendous player.”

As hard as the Boomers tried, they simply couldn’t stop Canada’s explosive offensive game led by the likes of RJ Barrett (23 points) and Lu Dort (11 points).

Australia held a four-point lead at halftime, but Goorjian conceded a horrid third term plagued by turnovers cost his side dearly.

“15 points off turnovers in the third quarter kind of gave them the cushion that was the game,” he said.

“The concern coming into the game was their pressure and how we handled their pressure.

“Even though we have depth in those spots, I just thought they wore us down physically and we really had trouble and we really struggled.”

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EXUM THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Goorjian was thrilled with Exum’s first game back from injury and is excited about what he can produce moving forward.

The Dallas Mavericks NBA star put aside any rust from sitting on the sidelines with a dislocated finger to provide the Australians with invaluable composure and class.

Exum, who finished with 15 points, showed no signs that his finger was holding him back.

He blasted through the paint for his first bucket, while he nailed his second shot with a silky jump shot.

Exum will play a key role in deciding Australia’s fate. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)

“He (Dante) is a key piece,” Goorjian said.

“Just the size factor and the physicality. He can get his feet in the paint and in the key to create for others.

“Dante gives us a better chance to go where we want to go.”

The Boomers will need Exum to be the difference maker moving forward.

Canada’s bad boy Dillion Brooks tried to physically intimidate Giddey during the first quarter.

Brooks got up in the Melbourne-born guard’s face, but the young Aussie star refused to be rattled.

Josh Giddey works around Canada' Khem Birch. Picture: Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP

Giddey is resilient and it showed in spades against the Canadians.

The recently signed Chicago Bull stuffed the stat sheet to finish with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

On the downside, Giddey had three turnovers and needed to be calmer under pressure down the stretch.

NBL Grand Final MVP and proud Tassie JackJumper Jack McVeigh kept the Aussies in the game in the third quarter.

McVeigh knocked down consecutive triples to keep the Boomers close – down by just two points heading into the final frame.