MANILA – Luka Doncic was tossed out midway in the fourth quarter as Slovenia suffered a 100-89 defeat to Canada in the knockout quarterfinals of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Dallas Mavericks star was tagged with his second technical foul for complaining to the referees after not being called for a foul on his missed shot attempt with over six minutes in the game.
Canada took advantage of the situation as they padded the lead to 94-77 courtesy of a free throw by Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Slovenia made a late run to cut the deficit to 89-98 but an inside hit by Kelly Olynyk from an offensive rebound sealed the win for Canada.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored for Canada with 31 points to go with 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals as they moved on to the semifinals round against Serbia on Friday.
RJ Barrett waxed hot in the second half to end up with 24 markers and nine boards, Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points as Dillon Brooks also contributed 14 before being ejected in the fourth quarter for a disqualifying foul.
Doncic led the way for Slovenia with 26 points, including four three-point conversions, along with five assists and four rebounds, Klemen Prepelic added 22 markers, while Zoran Dragic ended up with 10 points.
Meanwhile, Franz Wagner made a triumphant return as Germany survived the upset-conscious Latvia, 81-79, in the knockout quarterfinals match. The Germans will face Team USA in the semis.
Sidelined by an ankle injury the past four games, the Orlando Magic forward was a factor for the Germans in their fourth quarter breakaway with his three-pointers, perimeter hits, and free throws for a 74-60 lead with over six minutes left.
Latvia, however, mounted a huge run behind outside connections and layups from Arthur Zagarz to pull his team to within 79-81. They still had a chance to pull off another upset, but Davis Bertans missed a triple try at the buzzer.
Wagner top-scored for Germany with 16 points, spiced up by three three-point baskets, to go with eight rebounds and three assists, while his elder brother Moritz Wagner produced 12 markers off-the-bench./PN
BOX SCORE:
CANADA 100 – Gilgeous-Alexander 31, Barrett 24, Brooks 14, Alexander-Walker 14, Dort 8, Olynyk 7, Alexander 2, Powell 0, Ejim 0.
SLOVENIA 89 – Doncic 26, K. Prepelic 22, Dragic 10, Nikolic 8, Tobey 8, Hrovat 7, Cebasek 3, Blazic 3, Dimec 2, B. Prepelic 0.
Quarterscores: 26-24, 50-50, 80-71, 100-89.
