ORLEANS, France (July 21, 2024) - The Canadian Senior Men’s National Team defeated Puerto Rico 103-93 in a pre-Olympics exhibition game in Orleans, France on Sunday.

Dillon Brooks scored 21 points to lead Canada in the victory while Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Trey Lyles added 15 points apiece. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett added 14 points apiece, with Gilgeous-Alexander adding six assists and Barrett grabbing seven rebounds in the team's final exhibition tune-up before Paris 2024.

Jose Alvarado led Puerto Rico with 21 points, while Gian Clavell added 19 points in the loss.

Both teams shot 50 percent as the Canadians turned the ball over just 10 times compared to 18 turnovers for Puerto Rico. Canada scored 21 points off of Puerto Rico’s miscues and held a 46-34 advantage in points in the paint as well as a 10-5 edge in steals. Canada finished with 30 assists on 37 field goals.

Lyles scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half where the score was tied at 23 points after the opening quarter. Canada moved in front in the second quarter after Lyles found Alexander-Walker for a layup to go in front by two points as the team's defence picked up. A three from Lyles extended the lead to five points. Andrew Nembhard delivered a behind-the-back no-look pass to a cutting Dwight Powell for a dunk to go ahead by seven.

After a close first half, Canada held a 46-40 lead at the break. They used a 15-0 to start the third quarter and break the game open. Barrett scored the first five points of the second half, making a pair of free throws and then connecting from deep to give Canada an 11-point lead. After a three from Brooks, a step-back from Gilgeous-Alexander and then a second three from Brooks, Canada led 59-40. A dunk in transition from Gilgeous-Alexander made it a 21-point game with 7:22 remaining in the third. Christopher Ortiz closed the third with back-to-back buckets for Puerto Rico as Canada took a 14-point lead, 78-74, into the fourth.

Although Puerto Rico scored the first seven points of the final quarter, Canada's lead wasn't ever really in doubt the rest of the way through despite Alvarado doing his best to lead a comeback, scoring 11 of his 21 in the fourth including a trio of three-pointers. Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander responded for Canada early in the quarter while back-to-back three-pointers from Dort extended Canada’s lead back to 14 points, 91-77, with 5:22 remaining. A three from Melvin Ejim made it 98-79 Canada with 2:55 remaining and the Canadians went on to victory from there.

The Senior Men’s National Team will now head to Lille, France where they will continue training in advance of their first Olympics game on July 27.