Dillon Brooks goes off in Canada's win over USA for World Cup bronze / News - Basketnews.com

Dillon Brooks scored a career-high 39 points to lead Canada over Team USA in the FIBA World Cup 2023 overtime thriller for third place. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges had a miraculous 4-point play to force OT.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Despite the miracle by Mikal Bridges to force overtime, Canada completed their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 campaign with their first-ever medal in this international competition.

Player of the Game EFF 42 Dillon Brooks Points 39 Accuracy 12-18 Rebounds 4 Assists 5

Jordi Fernandez's squad defeatedillness-struck Team USA 127-118 in a 45-minute game and claimed bronze medals.

Dillon Brooks caught fire from the very first second of the game. Houston Rockets forward dropped 21 points in the first half, making all of his five three-pointers.

He finished the game with a career-high 39 points (5/10 2PT, 7/8 3PT, 8/10 FT), 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 40 EFF over 42 minutes. On top of that, 39 points for Brooks is the most for a player in a medal-winning game in the FIBA World Cup history.

However, it was Mikal Bridges who almost stole the show. Brooklyn Nets star produced a miracle with a four-point play in the last fourth-quarter possession. First, he converted one free throw, then missed the second one on purpose, but got the offensive rebound from his own shot and drained a corner three to tie the game at 111 with 0.6 seconds left.

Despite this, Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over the game during overtime, while RJ Barrett converted a game-clinching shot from downtown (124-115) to secure the W.

SGA complemented Brooks with 31 points (10/17 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 8/8 FT), 6 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Brooks inspired Canada to a strong 25-15 start, but eventually, Team USA responded with a 19-2 run and took the lead in the second quarter. From that point of the game, the contest was heading neck and neck until the late third period, when Canada again created a double-digit advantage (91-80).

Team Canada had a 9-point cushion (91-82) before the last tally, but USA came back into the match with a super-intensive defense. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards was the go-to guy on the offensive end, who put Team USA in front (96-94) with 6:20 to go in the fourth quarter.

Both teams were trading buckets and leads over the last stretch of the fourth quarter, but Gilgeous-Alexander connected a crucial go-ahead two-pointer with 34 seconds left on the clock (109-107). Canada then made a stop while Brooks nailed two free throws to what appeared to have fortified a win (111-107).

But then Mikal Bridges happened.

Canada: Dillon Brooks 39, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31 (12 AST), RJ Barrett 23 (7 REB), Lu Dort 11 (6 REB), Kelly Olynyk 11.

Team USA: Anthony Edwards 24, Austin Reaves 23, Mikal Bridges 19 (9 REB), Bobby Portis 14 (6 REB), Jalen Brunson 13, Josh Hart 10.

Game highlights:

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