In his first game of his career in the Olympics, former ASU and current Oklahoma City forward Lu Dort scored eight points, including a clutch three, for Team Canada in a down-to-the-wire, 86-79 victory over Greece on Saturday afternoon.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Opening up the Paris 2024 Games on a high note, Dort shot 2-for-4 (50%) overall and was a perfect 2-for-2 at the free throw line. He also collected four rebounds, two assists and a steal in the back-and-forth affair.
Dort, fellow Thunder teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett, Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks and Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell were the Canadians’ starters. Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray came off of the bench.
Ready to roll // Prêts à débuter ????
Presenting our starting 5⃣ // Présentation de notre 5⃣ de départ#SMNT | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Dc9JT96ywj
— Canada Basketball (@CanBball) July 27, 2024
Off to a slow start, Dort’s first two points did not come until the 5:06 mark of the second quarter when he was fouled by Panagiotis Kalaitzakis. Sent to the line, Dort converted on two free throws.
Throughout the entirety of the game, Canada led but Greece put up a valiant effort of not back down whatsoever. Canada was up by as much as 15 points before Greece responded with a 15-7 run in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was engulfed with high intesity and aggressivness from both teams as this matchup quickly turned into a war of grit and determination. Due to the physicality on both ends of the court, Dort, Powell and Brooks all fouled out for Canada with five personal fouls and Greece’s Nick Calathes did the same.
With Greece inching closer to catching Canada by getting to within four, Gilgeous-Alexander passed to Dort and the former Sun Devil hit a crucial 3-pointer at 4:57 of the fourth quarter, regaining an eight-point lead 75-68. 36 seconds later, Gilgeous-Alexander connected on a three which seemed to be the dagger until it didn’t turn out to be.
Not backing down, Greece went on a 10-0 run to claw back to two, down just 80-78. Fending off the pressure that Greece instilled in the waning moments of the game, Gilgeous-Alexander flushed a mid-range jumper, Murray made a pair of free throws and Barrett capped the win off with a dunk.
Milwaukee Bucks and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo asserted his dominance and tried to power Greece back in the game, but fell short. Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and amassed five assists in the Greeks’ 2024 Olympic debut.
Barrett ended with 23 points, Gilgeous-Alexander had 21 and Brooks finished with 14 before leaving the game after getting tangled when double-teaming Antetokounmpo late in the final quarter.
Dort and Canada will next face Australia on Tuesday at 4:30 a.m. PT.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
