The Olympics kicked off early on Tuesday morning with an exciting group play matchup between Canada and Australia, featuring the only two Dallas Mavericks competing this year: Dante Exum for Australia and Dwight Powell for Canada.
Dante Exum, recovering from a dislocated finger, delivered a stellar performance for Australia. Coming off the bench, Exum scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, trailing only Josh Giddey and Jock Landale in scoring for his team. Despite Australia’s loss, Exum’s contribution was crucial, demonstrating his ability to impact the game even after a few weeks off.
On the Canadian side, Dwight Powell had a commendable performance, contributing 7 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. While Powell was the only Canadian starter not to reach double figures, his veteran leadership and presence were instrumental in Canada’s success. His efforts helped Canada maintain a perfect record in Group Play and solidify their position as the favorites to advance from Group A.
