Canada’s men’s basketball team will take on France when the Olympic tournament shifts to Paris on Tuesday.
The Canadians topped Group A with an impressive 3-0 record, securing victories over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece, world No. 5 Australia, and world No. 3 Spain. France, finishing second in Group B, earned wins against Brazil and Japan but lost in a blowout to Germany.
Quarterfinal matchups were drawn on Saturday, pitting Canada against France, Germany against Greece, Serbia against Australia, and Brazil against the top-ranked United States. Canada will avoid facing Australia, Serbia, or the United States until the medal rounds. Japan, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan were eliminated following the group stage.
| Canada Moneyline Odds | –330 |
| France Moneyline Odds | +265 |
| Total | Over 163.5 points (-110), Under 163.5 Points (-110) |
| Point Spread | Canada -7.5 (-110) |
| Time/Date | Aug. 6, 8:00 a.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: CBC Stream: CBC Gem |
About Canada (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS)
The Canadians were tied 19-19 with Spain at the end of the first quarter before gaining momentum early in the second. Andrew Nembhard, coming off the bench, drained a three-pointer to put Canada ahead 22-21, igniting a surge that saw them take a 49-38 lead at halftime. Nembhard, who had averaged 3.5 points per game in his first two Olympic appearances, finished with an impressive 18 points. Canada won the game 88-85, but they failed to cover the point spread (-9.5) for the first time in the tournament.
Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with a game-high 20 points, adding three rebounds and two assists. However, fellow guard Lu Dort went pointless. RJ Barrett contributed 16 points, one rebound, and three assists. Though this was Barrett’s quietest game of the tournament, he remains the team’s top scorer, having posted 24 and 23 points in the first two games, respectively. Dillon Brooks also chipped in with 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Canada’s starters–Gilgeous-Alexander, Barrett, Brooks, Powell, and Dort–have outscored opponents by 39 points in 25 minutes through three games, according to Josh Su of the Canadian Olympic Committee. Opponents are just 9-for-42 (21.4%) shooting from the field against Canada in the Olympics so far.
| Team/Country | Gold Medal Odds |
| United States | -600 |
| Canada | +800 |
| Germany | +800 |
| Serbia | +2500 |
| Australia | +4000 |
| France | +4000 |
| Greece | +5000 |
| Brazil | +25000 |
Canada Gold Medal Winner Men’s Basketball
+800
About France (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS)
Canada hasn’t medaled in the Olympics since taking silver in 1938, and they’ll have to go through the host country and star Victor Wembanyama to have a chance at advancing. France played spoiler in 2000, the last time these two teams met in the Olympics, eliminating Canada and kicking off a 24-year drought.
France hasn’t looked as good as most would have thought coming into the Games, but Wembanyama has been as good as advertised and then some. The seven-footer leads the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals while also ranking second in blocks and three-point percentage. Still, the pressure is on the 20-year-old phenom to deliver a historic performance in the knockout round.
Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder tore up France in group play, each scoring 26 points in Germany’s 85-71 win. Wembanyama had 14 points and 12 rebounds, but overall, the team could not handle the physicality of Germany’s game. The fact that the Canadians will pose a similar challenge is one big reason why France is a 7.5-point underdog.
The Canadians don’t have anybody like Wembanyama, but collectively, France isn’t as good as Canada. Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, and Rudy Gobert have had solid tournaments, but there’s a lot of uncertainty as to which player, if any, will step up in any given game. Meanwhile, Canada’s key contributors have been more consistent.
Player Props To Consider
- RJ Barrett Over 16.5 points (-115): Only three players have scored as many points per game as Barrett (21) has in these Olympics. Gilgeous-Alexander put up 23 points in a tune-up game against France on July 19th, and there’s little doubt that he will be the best player on the court on Tuesday. Barrett, who put up 21 points versus France in that exhibition game, will be the one to benefit when France tries to trap and double-team him.
- Dwight Powell Over 4.5 Rebounds (-115): Through three games, Powell has played 21, 26, and 19 minutes, respectively. He won’t always be on the floor, but when he is, he should get plenty of touches around the rim. Powell isn’t a seven-footer, but he is Canada’s biggest player, and they will need him to be effective in the restricted area.
- Guerschon Yabusele Under 8.5 Points (-110): Don’t be surprised to see Yabusele put up points when he comes off the bench, but his points prop is set at 8.5 (over -120), which aligns with his average (8.3) per game.
RJ Barrett (CAN) Over 16.5 Points
-115
Canada vs. France Prediction
France covered the spread (-9.5) versus Brazil with a 78-66 win, but they barely got past Japan (94-90) despite being 17.5-point favourites and lost to Germany by 14 points as a 3.5-point underdog. The fans in Paris have been great, though, and the home team will have plenty of support in this matchup. Canada must do their best to shut down Wembanyama while also avoiding foul trouble. If they play a disciplined, physical game, the Canadians should eliminate France, but covering the 7.5-point spread will be challenging.
