Canada's Trae Bell-Haynes, left, and Venezuela's Gregory Vargas battle for the ball during a World Cup Americas Basketball qualifier game in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ariana Cubillos
GRANADA, Spain – Lu Dort scored a team-high 13 points but it was not enough as Canada fell 94 – 88 to the Dominican Republic in its final tune-up game for the FIBA World Cup on Friday.
Trae Bell-Haynes added 12 points off the bench, while RJ Barrett and Dillon Brooks each had 10 for Canada.
Karl-Anthony Towns and LJ Figeuroa led the way for the Dominican Republic with 20 points apiece.
Canada entered Friday’s contest coming off an 85-80 overtime win over top-ranked, and defending World Cup champion, Spain on Thursday. Canada finished 3-2 in exhibition play.
The 15th-ranked Canadians open Group H play at the 32-team World Cup on Aug. 25 against France, followed by Lebanon on Aug. 27 and Latvia on Aug. 29 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Canada needs a top-two finish among Americas teams to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2023.
