Canada versus Spain was billed to be the game of the tournament before the opening ceremonies for the 2023 FIBA World Cup even began.
After all, there was no shortage of storylines to follow: NBA talent versus international experience, Jordi Fernandez versus his former team and boss, and the up-and-coming Canadians versus the established No. 1 program in the world.
Plus, with the way the final day of the group stage day played out — with three teams from the Americas getting knocked out of the competition — the stakes were at an all-time high: Win and Canada would not only book a spot in their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1994, but also their first Olympic bid since 2000.