Lu Dort and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were the stars of the show in Quebec City as they led Canada to a 97-92 victory over Argentina in the FIBA men’s basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifier. Dort scored 25 points, while Alexander-Walker added 26, thrilling over 13,000 fans at the Videotron Centre.
Canada, ranked fifth in the FIBA world rankings, remains undefeated in eight games and is set to face Uruguay in November before a rematch with Argentina. The top three teams in the remaining America groups will secure spots in the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar, with the best fourth-place finisher also earning a chance to compete in Doha.
Argentina’s Nicolas Laprovittola put on a stellar performance, scoring 31 points, with Nicolas Brussino contributing 11 points. Despite Argentina’s efforts, Dort’s early three-pointer set the tone for Canada, which overcame a deficit to secure the win.
Head coach Gordie Herbert praised Canada’s resilience in cutting the lead before halftime. The Canadian team displayed a more aggressive approach in the third quarter, led by veteran Kelly Olynyk’s solid play under the basket. Alexander-Walker then took charge in the final quarter to seal the victory.
Dort, playing his first game since the NBA playoffs, admitted feeling rusty initially but regained his form as the game progressed. “I haven’t played competitively since the playoffs, but I took good care of my health over the summer and felt prepared,” Dort shared with reporters post-game.