Lu Dort marked his debut in Quebec City by putting up 25 points, while his teammate Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks contributed 26 points, helping Canada secure a notable 97-92 win over Argentina in the FIBA men’s basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifier on Monday night, with over 13,000 spectators in attendance at the Videotron Centre.
Canada, ranked fifth in FIBA’s global rankings, remains unbeaten in eight games and is scheduled to face Uruguay in their home country on Nov. 26 before a rematch against Argentina three days later.
The top three teams from the two remaining America groups will earn spots at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar, with the best fourth-place finisher also securing a ticket to Doha.
Despite Argentina’s Nicolas Laprovittola scoring 31 points, the standout performance of the game, Canada’s defensive efforts limited other Argentine players, with Nicolas Brussino being the only other player in double digits with 11 points.
Lu Dort stole the spotlight in the game, opening with a three-pointer that ignited the crowd. Canada initially led 13-6 but Argentina fought back strongly, outscoring Canada 13-1 in a brief period in the first quarter, finishing the quarter with a 29-23 lead.
Argentina extended their lead to 17 points early in the second quarter, taking advantage of Dort’s absence due to foul trouble. However, Canada rallied before halftime to narrow the gap to 53-48.
Canada’s head coach Gordie Herbert acknowledged the team’s slow start but praised their effort in reducing the deficit to single digits before halftime.
A rejuvenated Canadian team emerged in the third quarter, outscoring Argentina 25-16, with veteran Kelly Olynyk playing a pivotal role under the basket.
In the final quarter, Nickeil Alexander-Walker guided Canada to victory with a strong performance.
Lu Dort, playing his first game since the NBA playoffs, admitted feeling rusty initially but regained his rhythm as the game progressed, emphasizing his preparation during the offseason.
Overall, Canada’s resilience and strategic gameplay led them to a crucial victory over Argentina in the qualifying match.