Serbia defeats Canada, advances to FIBA World Cup final / News - Basketnews.com

Bogdan Bogdanovic guides Serbia to a FIBA World Cup 2023 final and a semi-final win over Canada with a game-high 23 points.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Serbia has returned to the FIBA World Cup final after a nine-year absence.

Player of the Game EFF 28 Bogdan Bogdanovic Points 23 Accuracy 8-12 Rebounds 4 Assists 3

The Balkan country defeated Canada 95-86in the first FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 semifinal and advanced to the grand final, where Svetislav Pesic's team will meet either Team USA or Germany.

Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed with a game-high 23 points (5/8 2PT, 3/4 3PT, 4/5 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals over 29 minutes.

Bogi has now made 70 threes in the FIBA World Cup, the most 3-pointers made for a player in the competition over the last 30 years.

Aleksa Avramovic made a huge effort by slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and becoming the energy guy for Serbia. Partizan player finished the match with 10 points and a pair of steals. Nikola Milutinov added a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards.

Bogdan Bogdanovic (15) and Nikola Milutinov (11) combined for exactly half of Serbia's points during the first two quarters of the game, scoring 26 points out of 52. The Balkan country finished the first half with an 11-4 run and had a 13-point cushion (52-39) before the break.

Meanwhile, Serbia kept Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been averaging 10.2 points per first half throughout his 6 World Cup games, with his lowest-scoring half and put him in foul trouble -- 5 points (1/4 FG), 1 turnover, and 3 personal fouls. Still, he closed the contest with a near double-double of 15 points and 9 assists.

Although Canada started the third quarter on a high note (11-5 spurt), Serbia managed to maintain the game control in their hands. Dillon Brooks and Kelly Olynyk received their fourth personal fouls early and were forced to sit on the bench.

Bogdanovic continued his show in the fourth tally (7 points scored) and laid the foundations for Serbia's victory over Team Canada.

Serbia: Bogdan Bogdanovic 23, Nikola Milutinov 16 (10 REB), Ognjen Dobric 16, Marko Guduric 12, Aleksa Avramovic 10.

Canada: RJ Barrett 23, Dillon Brooks 16, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 15 (9 AST), Nickeil Alexander-Walker 10.

Game highlights:

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