Lu Dort had an impressive debut in Quebec City, scoring 25 points, while his teammate Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 26, leading Canada to a 97-92 victory over Argentina in the FIBA men’s basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifier on Monday. The game, held at Videotron Centre, drew a crowd of over 13,000 fans.
Canada, ranked fifth in FIBA, remains unbeaten in eight games and is set to face Uruguay in their next match on Nov. 26 before a rematch with Argentina three days later. The top three teams from the remaining America groups will secure spots in the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar, with the best fourth-place finisher also earning a berth in Doha.
Despite Argentina’s Nicolas Laprovittola’s standout performance with 31 points, the team fell short. Only Nicolas Brussino, with 11 points, provided significant scoring support for Argentina.
Lu Dort made an impactful start by scoring the opening three-pointer and energizing the crowd. Canada initially led 13-6 but faced a strong comeback from Argentina, who dominated a stretch in the first quarter, finishing 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 fought back and narrowed the gap to 53-48 by halftime, impressing coach Gordie Herbert.
Canada came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring Argentina 25-16, driven by Kelly Olynyk’s pivotal play under the basket. In the final quarter, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s leadership guided Canada to secure the victory.
After the game, Lu Dort shared that he initially felt rusty coming off the NBA playoffs but regained his stride as the game progressed. He emphasized his preparation during the offseason, ensuring he was in top form for the match.